Bucks County Issues Multi-Day ‘Code Blue’ Declaration

Provided by the County of Bucks:

In anticipation of this winter’s first sweep of bitter cold in the region, the Bucks County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) joins the county Health Department to issue a “Code Blue” declaration extending from 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2015 through 7 a.m. Sunday, January 11, 2015.

The National Weather Service is predicting consecutive days of frigid temperatures, with lows hovering in the teens and into the single digits. The EMA has made arrangements with the on-call churches, Calvary Baptist Church in Bristol, Trinity Episcopal Church in Buckingham and West Swamp Mennonite Church in Quakertown, to activate their emergency shelters. The on-call churches will coordinate transportation, temporary shelter, food and other necessities.

County Emergency Management Director Scott Forster and Health Director Dr. David Damsker have notified local public safety officials of the Code Blue declaration. They advise all residents to be aware of the severe anticipated weather conditions. County residents are urged to check on their elderly neighbors during this period of frigid weather. Caution also should be taken with pets during the anticipated period of extremely cold temperatures.

For shelter information, please call the homeless hotline at 1-800-810-4434. For general cold weather information, please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: www.emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/winter.