Code Blue Issued, Warming Shelters Open In HoCo

HOWARD COUNTY, MD -- The Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services has issued a "code blue" for Howard County, authorities announced on Wednesday. Temperatures were in the 20s Wednesday morning and were not expected to be above freezing until Thursday.

The high in Howard County on Wednesday is 32 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Wind gusts may be higher than 30 mph.

To stay warm, officials encourage people to seek shelter in libraries, community centers, senior centers and malls.

Howard County has opened two warming shelters that will be open through the cold spell:

• Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, 6700 Freetown Road in Columbia
• Leola Dorsey Day Resource Center, 10390 Guilford Road in Jessup

Those who are homeless or who encounter a person in need of assistance are encouraged to call the Grassroots hotline at 410-531-6677.

Image via Google streetview.