Cold, wet weather impacts all in Central Valley

Cars and trucks headed North on Highway 41 near Herndon came to a stop shortly before two Tuesday afternoon. One person was sent to Community Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. The CHP said wet conditions on the road played a role in causing four cars to collide. About 30 minutes later Dodge S.U.V. ran into a food distribution building in downtown Fresno. Investigators said the driver was traveling too fast on the wet road.

Many residents are finding their way to home improvement stores like Lowes in north Fresno looking for solutions to fend off freezing temperatures.

Madera Ranchos residents Mary Thompson said: "We have a well and so I'm gonna insulate the pipes a little extra."

"With the holidays no one is going to want water leaking, pipes frozen, so a lot of people are going to come in and do the precautions," said Lowes sales associate Anthony Battistoni.

Battistoni said several items like draft guards, pipe insulation and tarps are flying off the shelves.

Fresno County resident Vern Pletz said: "The concern for me is frost and our well and irrigation system."

Some residents do not have pipes to worry about. Marcell Beauford has been homeless for four years and has learned to rely on what's around to stay warm.

The city of Fresno is opening a warming center at Frank H. Ball for the homeless. When temperatures drop below 36 degrees F.A.X. buses will provide a free ride to the community center.

The Frank H. Ball warming center opens at 8:30 Tuesday night and closes in the morning at 6:30. F.A.X. buses will pick up people on route 32 and 34. It costs the city roughly $500 a night to operate the center.