Code Blue Extended In Cherry Hill

CHERRY HILL, NJ — A Code Blue Weather Advisory in effect for Camden County has been extended one more day. The Health Officer has issued the Code Blue advisory for Camden County effective tonight, Thursday, Jan. 18, from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. Friday morning.

“We are expecting conditions to remain especially frigid tonight and through much of the morning, with wind chill temperatures reaching as low as 20 degrees. We want to continue to emphasize the importance of getting everyone sheltered and out of the elements during these tough cold streaks,” Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, said. “With the recent precipitation and snow coming right before these freezing conditions, we also want to remind pedestrians and drivers to be extra cautious of ice and other dangerous road conditions.”

When the Camden County Health Officer declares a Code Blue Weather Advisory, municipalities with homeless populations, situational homeless or transient populations are expected to activate their Code Blue response plan to accommodate their immediate needs.

“During these extreme weather conditions, we encourage everyone to check on elderly or handicapped relatives and neighbors that live alone,” Rodriguez said. “It is important that the most vulnerable among us are not left without heat or electricity.”

The Camden County Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management have worked with each municipality to ensure they have the proper resources to respond to these severe weather situations as part of their individual Code Blue plans. Each municipality has identified its own location to accommodate those in their community seeking shelter from the severe weather.

In Cherry Hill, there are three warming centers:

Cherry Hill Twp. Comm. Ctr.
820 Mercer St.
Cherry Hill, NJ
Tel: 856-488-7800
Open: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Cherry Hill Mall
2000 Route 38 West
Cherry Hill, NJ
Tel: 856-662-7441
Open: 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.

Cherry Hill Public Library
1100 Kings Hwy North
Cherry Hill, NJ
Tel: 856-667-0300
Open: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Additional resources are available by calling the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 800-999-9045, or by visiting www.camdencounty.com.

In the event that the weather causes isolated power outages, residents are reminded to immediately call their utility company so they can identify the location and coordinate crews to restore their power. Any storm has the potential to bring down trees and power lines, so residents need to be extra cognizant of any power failures. Below are numbers and contact info for the two power providers in Camden County:

• PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)
• PSEG website: http://pseg.com/home/customer_service/outage_info/index.jsp
• South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
• South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/
• Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476; http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/home/

Rodriguez also provided some tips for keeping pets warm and safe:

• When the thermometer dips below 32 degrees, keep your pet indoors as much as possible. If your pet must stay outside, provide a warm shelter, raised a few inches off the ground, with the opening facing away from the wind and covered with a burlap or plastic flap. The shelter should be large enough for the animal to stand and turn around, but small enough to retain its body heat.
• If your pet is outdoors for extended periods when temperatures are below freezing (32 degrees), be alert for signs of distress from the cold. Just like in people, shivering is a sign that the body temperature is dropping. If you see your pet shivering, it is probably time to bring it inside. Remember, your pet's body temperature is between 101-102 degrees and its body temperature lowers faster in cold weather.
• A very young, very old pet or a pet with a health problem is more vulnerable to cold.
• An animal with thick fur can tolerate cold longer than a small animal and one with short hair.
• Don't leave your pet in an unheated vehicle for extended periods of time.
• Make sure your pet has clean unfrozen drinking water. Do not let your pet drink from puddles where there may be deadly antifreeze or other harmful chemicals.
• A pet can pick up rock salt, ice and other melting chemicals in their foot pads. This can harm your pet. Massaging petroleum jelly into paw pads before going outside helps to protect from salt and chemical agents. Moisturizing after a good toweling off helps to heal chapped paws. Wipe your pet's feet with a damp cloth when it comes inside to protect its pads from damage. If this is a problem for your pet, there are boots available in all sizes. Your dog can get used to wearing the boots indoors for short periods of time. Not all dogs take to them.
• If there are outside cats in the neighborhood, knock on the hood of your vehicle and look under it before starting your engine and driving off. Cats sometimes curl up next to or under warm engines when they are left out in the cold.
• Antifreeze has an attractive scent and taste for animals and is extremely poisonous! Be especially vigilant about the ingestion of antifreeze. The first sign of antifreeze poisoning is a pet that appears drunk. Immediately get your pet to the vet if you suspect it has ingested antifreeze as it can be fatal within four to eight hours of ingestion.

Patch file photo