(Washington, DC) – Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the DC Department of Human Services (DHS), in collaboration with the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), will activate a Cold Weather Emergency today, Thursday, December 5 at 7:00 p.m. According to the National Weather Service, the overnight temperature in Washington, DC is expected to be 27 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill of 14 degrees.
Under a Cold Weather Emergency, the District provides services and supports to protect residents from life-threatening illness and injuries associated with severe cold weather.
Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and to help neighbors experiencing homelessness in need of shelter by calling the Shelter Hotline. To request free, accessible transportation for yourself or someone else, call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by dialing 311. If you believe there is an immediate medical emergency, call 911.
Cold Weather Emergencies occur when the National Weather Service forecasts weather that presents a danger to residents, especially those who are outdoors and experiencing homelessness. Alerts are triggered by either a combination of temperature and wind chill at 15° F or below, or a combination of temperature and wind chill at 20° F or below along with an accompanying weather event such as snow. The alert will stay activated until conditions improve.
Important weather alerts are shared through x.com/AlertDC and the AlertDC notifications system, for which residents can sign up for email and text message updates at alert.dc.gov. All Washingtonians are encouraged to check on neighbors, especially unsheltered residents, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations, to ensure they are taking proper precautions ahead of the expected cold weather conditions.
Cold Weather Safety Precautions:
- Stay inside if you can.
- Cover up and limit exposed skin when you go outside.
- Check on your neighbors and learn the signs of hypothermia, especially in young children, the elderly, and those with access and functional needs are the most vulnerable in our community.
- To request free, accessible shelter transportation for residents who are experiencing homelessness and are outside, please call 311 or the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093.
- The District opens Hypothermia Overflow Sites to ensure there are warm, safe places to be for anyone experiencing homelessness. For a list of shelters, visit cold.dc.gov.
- For all animal emergencies, including animals left outside in extreme temperatures, call the Humane Rescue Alliance at (202) 723-5730.
The following shelter locations are open:
Shelters for Women
- Harriet Tubman – 1910 Massachusetts Avenue SE
- Pat Handy – 810 5th Street NW
- St. Josephine Bakhita – 6010 Georgia Avenue NW
- Eve’s Place – 2210B Adams Place NE
- 11th Street Swing Space – 1009 11th Street NW
- CCNV-2 South – 425 2nd Street NW
Shelters for Men
- 801 East Men’s Shelter and Day Center – 2722 Martin L. King Jr Avenue SE
- Adams Place – 2210 Adams Place NE
- Emery Shelter and Overflow – 1725 Lincoln Road NE
- New York Ave NE – 1355 New York Avenue NE
- Federal City-1 North and Drop-In Center – 425 2nd Street NW
- Church of the Epiphany – 1317 G Street NW
- Salvation Army – 3335 Sherman Avenue NW
Shelter for LGBTQ+
- Living Life Alternative-Family Life Center at 400 50th Street SE
Families seeking emergency shelter can call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311 at any time day or night.
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