'Code Blue' Declared In Montgomery County as Temperatures Plummet

A winter chill is settling over Montgomery County, as the Department of Public Safety has declared a "Code Blue" weather emergency through Monday morning.

Code Blue is declared when authorities believe winter conditions could pose a threat of serious harm or death to those without shelter.

The declaration went into effect at 9 p.m. Thursday and runs through 9 a.m. on Monday, December 12.

Temperatures will hover around freezing for parts of the next several days and will dip well below that at night. The wind chill is anticipated to drop into the teens on both Friday and Saturday night. The forecast for the weekend is as follows:

Friday: high 37, low 23

Saturday: high 37, low 22

Sunday: high 28, low 29

Monday: high 47, low 32

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.