Philly Declares Code Blue Emergency For Friday, Saturday Nights ​

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia's Office of Homeless Services is declaring its first Code Blue emergency of this season tonight, according to the city.

Code Blue will be effective as of 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 through 7 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12.

Code Blue is enacted when the National Weather Service predicts wind chills of 20 degrees or lower or precipitation with temperatures below 32 degrees.

During this time, extra homeless outreach teams will patrol the streets encouraging homeless people to come indoors and avoid prolonged exposure to the elements amid dangerously cold temperatures, the city said.

People experiencing homelessness will be strongly encouraged to remain indoors until the Code Blue has ended.

The Office of Homeless Services is providing 80 extra shelter beds during the Code Blue period.

City officials are urging the public to call Homeless Outreach at (215) 232-1984 at any time if they see someone who is homeless and sleeping on the street.

Homeless outreach teams are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A homeless man tries to stay warm on a Manhattan street on an unseasonably cold day on March 15, 2017 in New York City. Spencer Platt/Getty Images News/Getty Images