By: Lauren T. Agnew
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura announced that Essex County’s Code Blue procedures are being activated because of extreme cold weather in the forecast.
Essex County is enacting its Code Blue protocols from Friday, February 24th at 8 p.m. to Sunday, February 26th at 8 a.m. For participating shelters, view the graphic below or visit www.nj211.org.
“Providing our homeless residents with a warm place to stay during extreme weather conditions is important for their safety and well-being. We thank our participating shelters and warming stations for working with us to open their doors in these times of need,” DiVincenzo said.
“Our homeless residents need a warm place to stay when winter weather gets this bad.
The organizations opening their doors are providing excellent service and helping us protect the safety of these vulnerable residents,” Fontoura said.
When a Code Blue is declared, a network of warming stations operated by the County and its municipalities and shelters operated by community-based organizations will be opened.
The warming stations identified include a variety of public libraries, senior centers, civic and community centers, school buildings, houses of worship, firehouses, and first aid squad buildings.
Warming stations generally open during the day and may not provide overnight accommodations. Shelters do provide overnight accommodations.
In addition, shelters that regularly require occupants to leave during the day will suspend that practice so people can stay indoors.
A list of participating shelters is copied below or can be viewed by visiting www.NJ211.org or dialing 2-1-1.