Code Blue Cold Weather Emergency Declared In Montgomery County

NORRISTOWN, PA -- Temperatures plummeted as winds tore through the region on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, leading a Code Blue Cold Weather Emergency to be declared in Montgomery County.

The declaration will remain in effect through 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14. It began at 9 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Code Blue is declared when the wind chill is expected to dip below 20 degrees and the conditions "pose a threat of serious harm or death to individuals without shelter."

Temperatures sunk below 20 in some parts of the county on Tuesday night. A low of 27 is expected Wednesday, and temperatures could be back down in the teens come Thursday. Wind gusts, meanwhile, could gust up to 40 miles per hour on Wednesday.

Residents of Montgomery County who need shelter during a Code Blue can go to the Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center (CHOC) in Building 53 at the Norristown State Hospital grounds. If needed, transportation will be provided. The CHOC is a 50-bed shelter for single residents. The phone number for the CHOC is 610-292-9244. Families are sheltered at the Salvation Army in Norristown or Pottstown.
Related Resources, courtesy of Montgomery County:

• Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center (CHOC)
• Emergency Preparedness and Response - Winter Weather (CDC)
• National Weather Service - Winter Safety
• The Salvation Army of Norristown
• The Salvation Army of Pottstown

Image via Montgomery County