An elderly man who authorities had feared might be out in the cold Friday night was found unharmed after a search of nealry two hours in Auburn.

Police and firefighters searched through woods and in nearby stores and restaurants after the man was reported missing from North Brook Heights Residential Care Home on Murray Street in Auburn.

The man was discovered missing from his residence at about 6:45 Friday night. Police were soon follwing footprints into the wooded area nearby, as well as along Austin Drive. They also followed a path through the woods with a locator unit belonging to the Auburn Fire Department.

The Auburn Police Department said they requested the help of a helicopter from the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, but weather conditions prevented it from being launched. Two police dogs were also enlisted to search for the man.

The search continued in Grant Avenue Plaza, as a man bearing the description of the missing man was reportedly seen in the Marshall's store there. All of the eateries in the plaza were checked with no positive results, police said.

Highland Search and Rescue Canine units were called in shortly after 9 p.m. and the parameters of the search expanded to areas north and east of the plaza, then south and west.

The man was located across the street from North Brook Heights at about 9:30 p.m. and had apparently been indoors -- warm and dry -- at another residence while the search had been going on.