WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Friday that District officials will activate the season’s first Cold Alert beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13, and continuing through 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, as overnight temperatures drop across the region.
The emergency activation is being coordinated by the District’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency in partnership with the Department of Human Services. According to forecasts from the National Weather Service, overnight temperatures in the District are expected to drop to 37 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chill values falling to 32 degrees.
In the District, a Cold Alert is triggered when forecasted temperatures with wind chill fall between 16 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or between 21 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit if precipitation is anticipated. When an alert is in effect, city agencies mobilize outreach teams and open hypothermia shelters to ensure safe, warm accommodations for unhoused residents and vulnerable individuals.
District officials urge residents to check on neighbors, limit exposed skin when outdoors, and report anyone in need of shelter or warm clothing. Free, accessible transportation to District shelters can be requested 24 hours a day by calling the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by dialing 311. In the event of an immediate medical emergency, residents should dial 911.
City officials noted that low-barrier shelters remain open year-round across the District, while seasonal hypothermia shelters operate overnight from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. Families seeking emergency shelter assistance over the weekend may also contact the Shelter Hotline.
The Washington Herald
editorial@thewashingtonherald.com
Washington, D.C.
Be First to Comment