Bucks Co. Issues Code Blue: Here's When It Starts And Ends

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — With bitter cold air forecast to settle in over the region early this week, Bucks County has declared a "Code Blue" beginning Sunday evening and continuing through Wednesday morning.

Shelters in Upper, Central and Lower Bucks will open Sunday evening and will be in operation nightly through Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, providing shelter for those needing a warm place to sleep.

The following shelters have been activated for this Code Blue event:

• Upper Bucks (facebook.com/upperbuckscodeblue) - Quakertown Masonic Lodge, first floor, 501 W. Broad Street, Quakertown 18951
• Central Bucks – co2ssh.org - Our Lady of Guadalupe, 5194 Cold Spring Creamery Road, Doylestown 18902. (www.olguadalupe.org)
• Lower Bucks – ahtn.org - Woodside Church, 1667 Edgewood Road, Yardley 19067 .(www.woodside-church.org)

Guests are required to leave the shelters by 6:45 a.m. each day and may return in the evening. The Upper and Lower Bucks shelters will open at 8:30 p.m. The Central Bucks shelter opens at 7:30 p.m.

The county issues a “Code Blue” declaration when temperatures are forecast to drop below 20 degrees for two or more consecutive days. A “Code Blue” may be called amid higher temperatures, as consideration is also given to wind chill, precipitation and other circumstances.

The National Weather Service in Philadelphia is forecasting a low temperature of 17 degrees Sunday night, 12 degrees Monday night, and 8 degrees Tuesday night.

Information about “Code Blue” openings is available Monday to Friday through the Bucks County Housing Link Helpline at 1-800-810-4434.