Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, advises municipalities that Camden County will be under “Code Blue” severe weather advisories through Friday morning.
The Health Officer issued the severe weather advisory for Camden County effective from 6 p.m. this evening through 7 a.m. on March 13. The advisory will also be in effect from 6 p.m. on March 13 until 7 a.m. on March 14.
“Today’s mild temperatures will quickly turn cold and stormy so we are advising residents to avoid going outside for extended periods of time,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department. “It will be bitterly cold overnight, and we need everyone to be sheltered and out of the elements.”
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.
We are monitoring a major change in the weather over the next 24 hours. The first threat will be from a squall line containing some strong to severe thunders storms with winds in excess of 40 to 50 miles per between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight. This will be followed by precipitation ending as some flurries or snow showers overnight with the potential for light accumulation on colder surfaces. In addition, the temperature is expected to plummet overnight into the early morning tomorrow which poses the threat for re-freezing of wet surfaces. The cold weather will remain in place tomorrow and Friday.
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. Each municipality has identified its own location to accommodate those in their community seeking shelter from the severe weather.
“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.”
Persons seeking shelter in a warming center should contact their local municipality.
