Cold Emergency Plan Activated

Photo by PoPville flickr user Jim Havard

From the Mayor’s Office:

“December, 15th the Department of Human Services (DHS) in collaboration with the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) will activate the city’s Cold Emergency Plan. The Cold Emergency will be activated during the morning hours beginning at 7:00 a.m. at it will stay activated until Friday, December 16, 2016 at 7:00 a.m. Under a “Cold Emergency Alert” additional services and supports are provided to protect residents from life-threatening illness and injury associated with severe cold weather.

Key services provided during Cold Emergency Alerts include:

Access to Emergency Shelter—Low-barrier, Hypothermia, and Overflow emergency shelters are open during Hypothermia and Cold Alerts. Access to Overnight Warming Sites—In order to provide access to a warm and safe facility, designated public buildings, such as recreation centers, may open during the day or overnight. In cases where residents choose not to use the traditional low-barrier or hypothermia emergency shelters, these warming sites offer a warm and safe place to spend the night. Individuals may access these sites on their own or by contacting the Shelter Hotline for transportation. Overnight Warming Sites shall be in operation from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Some sites may open later than 7:00 p.m. based on regularly scheduled business operations.

Transportation to Warmth and Safety—Free transportation to an emergency shelter or warming site is provided to anyone experiencing homelessness in the District during a Cold Emergency Alert. To request transportation to shelter for persons in DC who are experiencing homelessness, contact the toll-free Shelter Hotline: (202) 399-7093 or 311. Include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person’s appearance. Families seeking emergency shelter can also visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center at 920 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, Monday – Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Families can also call the DC Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311 at any time day or night.

The following are low barrier and alert night emergency shelters and warming site locations:

Hypothermia/Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters

Hypothermia/Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters for Women

-New Covenant Baptist Church: 1301 W Street, SE
-Community of Christ Church: 3526 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
-Sherwood Recreation Center: 640 10th Street, NE
-Nativity Shelter: 6010 Georgia Avenue, NW

Hypothermia/Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters for Men

-Banneker Recreation Center: 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW
-Kennedy Recreation Center: 1401 7th Street, NW
-Sacred Heart Church: 16th Street and Park Road, NW
-Salvation Army: 3335 Sherman Avenue, NW
-Community for Creative Non-Violence: 425 2nd Street, NW
-Adams Place Shelter: 2210 Adams Place, NE
-801 East Shelter: 801 Making Life Better Lane, SE
-Raymond Recreation Center: 3725 10th Street, NW

Co-Ed Hypothermia/Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters

-Emery Recreation Center: 5801 Georgia Avenue, NW
-King Greenleaf Recreation Center: 201 N Street, SW

Low-Barrier Emergency Shelters

Low-barrier Emergency Shelters for Women

– Harriet Tubman Shelter: DC General Building 9,
1900 Massachusetts Avenue, SE
– Nativity Shelter: 6010 Georgia Avenue, NW
– Patricia Handy Place for Women: 810 5 Street, NW

Low-barrier Emergency Shelters for Men

– 801 East Shelter: 801 Making Life Better Lane, SE
– Adams Place Shelter: 2210 Adams Place, NE
– New York Avenue Shelter: 1355-57 New York Avenue, NE

Mayor Bowser is also urging residents to prepare for winter weather.

Winter storms can include extreme cold, high winds, freezing rain, sleet, and/or snowfall. Severe winter storms can cause blocked roads, downed power lines, power outages, transportation accidents and loss of life. To prepare for winter storms, residents are encouraged to heed the following suggestions:

For Your Family

· Make a family emergency plan. Your family members may not all be in one place when a winter event occurs. It is important to know how you will contact one another, how and where you will meet, and what you will do in case of an emergency. Plan how to communicate if you lose power, and keep a list of family members’ phone numbers along with other important numbers that may be needed during an emergency.
· Charge your cell phone so you have a full battery. Consider buying a solar or battery powered phone charger.
· Have all prescription and other medications in full supply for family members and pet(s).
· Stock up on fresh bottled water and food that does not need to be cooked, along with a manual can opener.
· If going outside, dress for the weather. Wearing several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing is better than wearing one layer of heavy clothing.

For Your Home

· Keep flashlights, extra batteries, and a first-aid kit accessible.
· Ensure that worn out shovels are replaced.
· While shopping, stock up on deicer, rock salt or non-clumping kitty litter to put on steps and sidewalks before a storm starts. Early application of these abrasives makes clearing snow/ice easier after a storm ends.
· Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects.
· Keep water faucets open to a slow drip.
· Remove any dead, broken, or rotting tree branches that could fall during a winter/ice storm.

For Your Car

· Keep kitty litter on hand to provide traction when cars get stuck in snow or ice.
· Keep scrapers, blankets, flashlights and a charged mobile charger inside vehicles.​

Seniors can get connected to needed services by calling the DC Office on Aging at (202) 724-5626.”