Collingswood Warming Centers Open as County Issues Code Blue Emergency

Camden County is under a Code Blue Emergency through Tuesday evening, the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services said Monday morning.

The Code Blue Emergency is effective from 6 p.m. Monday night to 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, and from 6 p.m. Tuesday night to 7 a.m. Wednesday morning.

“An arctic front is brining bitterly cold temperatures to our area, especially compared to what we have been experiencing so for this winter. Wind chills are expected to drop below zero overnight, so everyone should be sheltered and out of the elements during this severe weather,” Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, said. “If you must leave the house, please dress yourself and your children in warm clothing, hats and gloves. Also, please remember to check on elderly relatives and neighbors, and bring your pets indoors.”

The forecast for Monday night calls for clear skies with overnight temperatures dipping to around 10 degrees with a Wind Chill Factor of negative 8. Wind gusts out of the north of up to 25 mph are expected.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the teens on Tuesday night.

When the Camden County Health Officer declares a Severe Weather Emergency, 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 weather emergencies, we encourage everyone to check on elderly or handicapped relatives and neighbors that live alone,” Rodriguez said. “It is important that 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.

In Collingswood, warming centers can be found at the following locations:

• Collingswood Borough Municipal Building, 678 Haddon Avenue;
• Collingswood Fire House, 20 West Collings Avenue;
• Collingswood Library, 771 Haddon Avenue; and
• Collingswood Senior Center, 30 West Collings Avenue

The Office of Emergency Management is also monitoring conditions.

“As this weather pattern continues, please, if possible, stay indoors today to keep warm and stay out of the elements,” Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young said. “If you must go out, please take precautions to keep you and your family safe from the extreme temperatures.”

Young offers residents the following tips:

• Dress in layers and cover your exposed skin to avoid frostbite.
• It only takes 30 to 45 minutes for exposed skin to develop frostbite
• Mittens keep children’s hands warmer than gloves.
• Avoid wearing cotton, it holds in moisture and loses its insulating properties.
• Remember that even clear-looking sidewalks can be slippery.
• Keep dog walks brief, don’t leave animals outside and consider a dog coat.
• Please check on your neighbors, especially those that are elderly, disabled or live alone.
• Using your ceiling fan clockwise on low recirculates warm air through the room.

• Never use a stove, oven or a gas grill to heat your home.
• Use space heaters safely on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away. Turn off space heaters before going to bed.
• Wood -burning fireplaces should have a glass or metal screen large enough to catch sparks or rolling logs. Never leave children alone in the room when a fire is lit. Keep all flammable items at least three feet away from the fireplace. Always make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
• Keep your thermostat at the same temperature day and night. Your heating bill may be a little higher, but you could avoid the costly repair of pipes that freeze and burst.
• To prevent pipes from freezing, run water, even at a trickle. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, but be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.
• In order to conserve electricity, turn off lights and appliances that you do not need or are not using.
• At night, cover windows with drapes or blankets to minimize heat loss. During the day, open blinds to let sun warm the space.

In case of a power outage please report it directly to the appropriate utility provider list below:

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