Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, advises all municipalities that Camden County will be under a Code Blue Alert beginning at 7 p.m. tonight and ending at 7 a.m. tomorrow, Nov. 13.
“Temperatures are forecasted to fall into the 30s by midday, and overnight wind chills could drop into the single digits and low teens. We want to continue to emphasize the importance of getting everyone sheltered and out of the elements, especially when conditions become frigid and cold like today. It’s also important to check on elderly relatives and neighbors to make sure they are safe with proper heat, as well as to bring pets indoors and out of the elements,” Rodriguez said.
When the Camden County Health Officer declares a Code Blue, municipalities with homeless populations, situational homeless or transient populations are expected to activate their Code Blue response plan to accommodate their immediate needs.
“During these extreme weather conditions, we encourage everyone to check on elderly or handicapped relatives and neighbors that live alone,” Rodriguez added. “It is important that the most vulnerable among us are not left without heat or electricity.”
With more than 75 percent of households in Camden County owning a cat or a dog, Rodriguez wants to ensure that all pets are safe during these extreme temperatures as well.
Here are some cold weather tips from Freeholder Rodriguez to keep your pet safe:
When the thermometer dips below 32 degrees, keep your pet indoors as much as possible. If your pet must stay outside, provide a warm shelter, raised a few inches off the ground, with the opening facing away from the wind and covered with a burlap or plastic flap. The shelter should be large enough for the animal to stand and turn around, but small enough to retain its body heat.
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.
Persons seeking shelter in a warming center should contact their local municipality.
New after-hours Code Blue Emergency Hotline phone number: 1-800-331-7272.
Additional resources are available by calling the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at (800) 999-9045, or by visiting www.camdencounty.com.
