Montgomery County Declares Code Blue

For the fifth time this winter, the Montgomery County Commissioners have declared a Code Blue Cold Weather Emergency.

The declaration will be in effect from 9 p.m. Wednesday through noon on Friday, Feb. 17.

Temperatures will drop as low as 24 Thursday night and 28 Friday night with the wind chill in the teens on both nights.

Things will turn around abruptly come this weekend, when highs could be all the way in the 60s. Long range forecasts have highs in the 50s all of next week, as well.

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."

This is the fifth Code Blue of the season for Montgomery County.

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

Patch file photo