Camden County will be under a “Code Blue Emergency” through Saturday morning.
The Health Officer issued the Code B for Camden County effective from 6 p.m. on the evenings of Feb. 19 and Feb. 20 through 7 a.m. the following day.
“We are experiencing historic low temperatures. Wind chill readings in the negative numbers will be in place over the next 48 hours. We need everyone to be sheltered and out of the elements during this severe weather,” freeholder Carmen Rodriguez said. “Before leaving the house, please dress yourself and your children in warm clothing, hats and gloves. Also, please remember to check on elderly relatives and neighbors, and bring your pets indoors.”
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.
Gusty winds will continue to usher in frigid arctic air throughout the day. Some scattered flurries today or even a snow shower this evening may pass through the region, but we are not expecting more than a windblown dusting. Overnight lows will dip to -20 degrees with winds out of the northwest from 10 to 20 miles per hour.
“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.”
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. 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.
The Office of Emergency Management is also monitoring conditions.
“As this extreme weather continues, please, if possible, stay indoors today to keep warm and stay out of the elements,” said Freeholder Michelle Gentek, liaison to the Camden County Office of Emergency Management. “If you must go out, please take precautions to keep you and your family safe from the extreme temperatures.”
Camden County is offering residents the following tips to stay warm:
- Dress in layers and cover your exposed skin to avoid frostbite.
- It only takes 30 to 45 minutes for exposed skin to develop frostbite
- Mittens keep children’s hands warmer than gloves.
- Avoid wearing cotton, it holds in moisture and loses its insulating properties.
- Remember that even clear-looking sidewalks can be slippery.
- Keep dog walks brief, don’t leave animals outside and consider a dog coat.
- Please check on your neighbors, especially those that are elderly, disabled or live alone.
- Using your ceiling fan clockwise on low recirculates warm air through the room.
- Never use a stove, oven or a gas grill to heat your home.
- Use space heaters safely on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away. Turn off space heaters before going to bed.
- Wood -burning fireplaces should have a glass or metal screen large enough to catch sparks or rolling logs. Never leave children alone in the room when a fire is lit. Keep all flammable items at least three feet away from the fireplace. Always make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Keep your thermostat at the same temperature day and night. Your heating bill may be a little higher, but you could avoid the costly repair of pipes that freeze and burst.
- To prevent pipes from freezing, run water, even at a trickle. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing, but be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.
- In order to conserve electricity, turn off lights and appliances that you do not need or are not using.
- At night, cover windows with drapes or blankets to minimize heat loss. During the day, open blinds to let sun warm the space.
