YOUR ONE-STOP RESOURCE FOR HYPOTHERMIA SEASON
Last Updated: November 13, 2024, at 7:00 AM
Current Status: No Hypothermia Alert or Cold Weather Emergency
Shelter Hotline: (202) 399-7093 or 311
The District is committed to ensuring that people experiencing homelessness have access to shelter and transportation from November through March when unhoused residents are at greatest risk of hypothermia and other coldweather injuries. During the Hypothermia Season, the District issues alert and emergency notifications and enhances shelter capacity, increases outreach, and extends transportation operational hours.
This resource page includes information regarding:
- Alert and Emergency Notifications
- Shelter and Overflow Sites
- Transportation
- Calling for Help
- Families Experiencing Homelessness
- Unaccompanied Minors
- Resources
Check back often for additional information and updates throughout the hypothermia season!
Alert and Emergency Notifications
Preventing hypothermia and other cold weather injuries requires open and constant communication and collaboration among all stakeholders, including the public, providers of shelter and other services, and those who are experiencing homelessness or at immediate risk of experiencing homelessness.
On the first day of Hypothermia Season, November 1, the District’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), the DC Department of Human Services (DHS), and meteorologists at the National Weather Service (NWS) begin holding daily consultations to determine if a Hypothermia Alert or Cold Weather Emergency should be issued based on real-time weather conditions and the likely conditions in the next 24 hours.
Hypothermia Alerts
The District will call a Hypothermia Alert when the NWS published forecast indicates that the following threshold criteria are met (including wind chill):
- Daytime: actual or forecasted temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below
- Overnight: when the temperature is forecasted to be either
- 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below and the predicted chance of precipitation is 50% or greater
OR - 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below
- 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below and the predicted chance of precipitation is 50% or greater
Cold Weather Emergency
The District will call a Cold Weather Emergency when the temperature falls or is forecasted to fall to:
- 15 degrees Fahrenheit or below
OR - 20 degrees Fahrenheit and one or more of the following conditions exist:
- Steady precipitation for 60 consecutive minutes
- Snow accumulation of 3 inches or more
- Other meteorological conditions or threats as determined by the District
DHS sends a daily email with the Alert or Emergency status to the United Planning Organization (UPO) and key personnel administering critical homeless services programs impacted by the status regardless of whether the status has changed. Providers may call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 at any time to determine the current status. The status is posted by the Mayor’s Office on X, amplified by the relevant agencies, and available for all interested parties here on cold.dc.gov. Alert or Emergency status information is also available via in-person inquiries at open MPD stations, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) stations, public libraries, and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) recreation centers.
How to Receive Alert and Emergency Notifications
Sign up for free email and/or text alerts at alert.dc.gov. Follow @MayorBowser, @DCHumanServ, and @AlertDC on X.
Shelter and Overflow Sites
The District is committed to preventing cold weather injury and continuing to meet its right-to-shelter mandate during hypothermia season. Low-barrier shelters are always available year-round 24/7. From November through March, the District adds significant shelter capacity by mobilizing overflow sites. These overflow sites generally operate from 7 pm - 7 am after the first Hypothermia Alert. When there is a Cold Weather Emergency, overflow sites extend their hours to include 7 am - 7 pm, operating around the clock until the emergency is lifted.
Click here for a list of shelters and overflow sites and their hours of operation.
Interactive Map
Transportation
From November through March, transportation to and from a shelter is available to individuals experiencing homelessness 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Scheduled pick-up and drop-off locations vary by shelter and overflow site and are subject to change due to traffic conditions and winter weather challenges, including snow emergencies and ice.
Click here for UPOs latest transportation schedule.
Unscheduled (on-demand) transportation is available through the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311. Residents relying upon on-demand transportation may experience delays from 6 am - 10 am and 3 pm - 9 pm due to scheduled routes being prioritized at these times. On-demand transportation may also be impacted by traffic conditions and winter weather challenges. Accessible transportation for persons with disabilities is available upon request.
Calling for Help
During hypothermia season, the Shelter Hotline is available 24/7. If you need help or see someone outside needing shelter or a welfare check, please call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety, call 911. When calling, please include the date and time, the address or location, and a description of the person in need.
When to call the Shelter Hotline or 311:
- An individual requests transportation to a shelter or access to other homeless services
- An individual is alert but expresses they are cold or you witness behaviors indicating they may be cold
- You see an individual who appears to be vulnerable and you have a concern that the conditions may be detrimental to them
- When an individual asks for any type of homeless services
When to call 911:
- You know something about the person that may increase their risk in the cold (age, medical issue, substance abuse history)
- You see someone already experiencing the effects of the cold (sluggish, confused, shivering)
- The conditions are severe (extreme cold, significant snow/ice accumulation)
- You see someone without the proper cold weather resources (shoes, gloves, hat) or with wet items (clothing, blanket, bedding)
Families Experiencing Homelessness
Families experiencing homelessness or at immediate risk of experiencing homelessness should call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center (VWFRC) at 920-A Rhode Island Ave NE. VWFRC is the central intake for families experiencing homelessness. Families have access to a different set of shelter and transportation options than individuals.
Unaccompanied Minors
Throughout the year, not just during hypothermia season, an unaccompanied minor (12-18 years old) in need of assistance may contact the Safe Place Hotline at (202) 547-7777. This hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and operated by the Sasha Bruce Youthwork organization.
Resources