Winter Safety Reminder from Mayor Walsh

With forecasters predicting bitterly cold weather this week, Mayor Walsh is reminding residents to take precautions in managing this week’s cold blast.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant to help the City’s vulnerable populations at this time, particularly our homeless and elderly residents.

“We are very concerned about this cold weather and are working to monitor the situation and keep all our residents safe,” said Mayor Walsh. “While we’re doing what we can to spread this information city-wide, I’m personally asking each and every single Boston resident to look after their neighbor, be it someone you see outdoors or someone living next door.”

For Boston, a low of 0 degrees will be the coldest reading in 4 years. It has only reached 0 or colder twice in the past 10 years in Boston (2011 & 2005 when it was negative 2 degrees). In such cold conditions, Mayor Walsh reminds all Bostonians to take precautions to stay warm, as hypothermia or frostbite set in quickly in freezing temperatures.

Emergency Shelter Operations

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) coordinates a city-wide network of emergency shelters, outreach providers, city agencies and first responders to assist the homeless. Individuals can receive resources and a warm bed all year round at the city-run Woods Mullen shelter and the temporary shelter at South End Fitness Center. With the needs being even greater this time of year, BPHC’s network of homeless service providers work to ensure that no client is ever without shelter.

Shelters are kept open during the day for the safety of clients. During cold weather, guests who have been previously barred for non-violent offenses are granted amnesty. Working with the Pine Street Outreach Team and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, BPHC actively seeks out individuals and helps them find shelter during a cold snap, providing food, clothing, blankets, medical assistance to those in need. If you see a person in need of shelter or who is not properly dress for the cold, please call (617) 633- 0170. If the situation is an emergency, call 911.

Heat Guidelines for Property Owners

In accordance with the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code, the “heating season” officially begins September 15th and runs through June 15th. Property owners must provide heating facilities, which heat habitable spaces at a minimum temperature of 68 degrees during the day, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and 64 degrees in the evening 11:01 p.m. to 6:59 a.m.

In case of emergency, property owners are encouraged to keep a list of licensed contractors (electrician, plumber and general contractor) on file. Tenants experiencing problems with their heating system should do the following: check the thermostat, ensuring the dial is turned on never run out of oil and report insufficient or no heat problems to the property owner or manager immediately.

The following are quick tips property owners can take to make their homes energy efficient:

• Disconnect water hose from the home
• Wrap or cover exposed spigot
• Caulk or putty windows
• Ensure kitchen and bathroom dampers close properly
• Close all storm windows and doors
• Apply weather stripping
• Properly insulate all pipes that are exposed
• Cover vents

If your landlord or property manager is unresponsive contact the Inspectional Services Department (ISD) at (617) 635-5300 to file a complaint. Complaints made outside normal business hours should be called into the Mayor’s 24-Hour Hotline at 617-635-4500.

Residents are encouraged to check on the well-being of elderly or disabled neighbors, be mindful of homeless individuals that may need assistance, and practice caution when using portable heating devices such as space heaters.

Residents are also encouraged to sign up for notifications from AlertBoston, the city’s notification system. As the City is notified in advance, residents who sign up for notifications will receive a message from the City about Winter storms and extreme cold weather. This notification system also handles alerting residents when a snow emergency/parking ban is in effect and when it is being lifted.

Should you encounter a homeless individual in need of assistance, please notify public safety officials by calling 9-1-1 or the Mayor’s 24-hour Hotline at (617) 635-4500. For additional information on how to stay safe this winter, visit cityofboston.gov/cold.

Image via Shutterstock.