Code Blue Issued In Essex County, Procedures In Place To Help The Homeless Stay Warm

Code Blue procedures have been put into effect in Essex County due to the extreme winter weather homeless residents will be enduring this week.

According to Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura:

The Code Blue will be in effect starting Wednesday, January 7 to Friday, January 9 at 9 a.m. This is the first time the procedure will be implemented since it was unveiled on December 30.

“I am pleased that we were able to have our Code Blue procedures in place before the first blast of cold weather arrived this winter. Providing our homeless residents with a warm place to stay during extreme weather conditions is important for their safety and well-being,” DiVincenzo said. “The winter forecast this week will give us an opportunity to enact our procedures for the first time and evaluate where we need to improve,” he added.

The forecast for the next several days includes a chance of snow with temperatures ranging from a high of 27 degrees to a low of 5 degree and wind chill temperatures being below 10 degrees.

Conditions for a Code Blue are defined as when the temperature drops below 15 degrees for a 48-hour period or when the wind chill is below 0 degrees.

When those conditions are met, or when the weather forecast predicts these conditions, the County Executive can proclaim a Code Blue and enact the procedure.

When a Code Blue is declared, a network of warming stations operated by the County and its municipalities and shelters operated by the community based organizations will be opened.

The warming stations identified include:

• Essex County Codey Arena
• a variety of public libraries
• senior centers
• civic and community centers
• school buildings
• houses of worship
• firehouses and first aid squad buildings.

Warming stations are generally opened during the day and may not provide overnight accommodations.

Shelters do provide overnight accommodations.

In addition, shelters that regularly require occupants to leave during the day will suspend that practice so people can stay indoors.

A list of available warming stations and shelters is available on www.NJ211.organd available by dialing 2-1-1.