Health Department Issues Severe Weather Advisory – “Code Blue”
Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, advises municipalities that Camden County will be under “Code Blue” severe weather advisory tonight and tomorrow night.
The Health Officer issued the Code Blue advisory for Camden County effective from 6 p.m. Jan. 5 through 7 a.m. Jan. 6, and from 6 p.m. Jan. 6 through 7 a.m. Jan 7.
“Since temperatures will continue to drop accompanied by gusting winds, we are advising residents to avoid going outside for extended periods of time,” Rodriguez said. “Tonight we are expecting temperatures in the 20s and 15 mile per hour winds. We need everyone to be sheltered and out of the elements.”
When the Camden County Health Officer declares a Severe Weather Emergency, municipalities with homeless populations, situational homeless or transient populations are expected to activate their Code Blue response plan to accommodate their immediate needs.
As a quick moving clipper system approaches from the west, clouds will increase after midnight with temperatures in the low 20s. Scattered snowfall is expected tomorrow with possible accumulations of up to 2” before tapering off by late afternoon. The coldest air of the season is on its way by the end of the week.
The Camden County Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management have worked with each municipality to ensure they have the proper resources to respond to these severe weather situations as part of their individual Code Blue plans. Each municipality has identified its own location to accommodate those in their community seeking shelter from the severe weather.
“During these weather emergencies, we encourage everyone to check on elderly or handicapped relatives and neighbors that live alone,” Rodriguez said. “It is important that most vulnerable among us are not left without heat or electricity.”
Persons seeking shelter in a warming center should contact their local municipality.
In case of a power outage please report it directly to the appropriate utility provider list below:
- PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)
- PSEG website: http://pseg.com/home/customer_service/outage_info/index.jsp
- Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476
- Atlantic City Electric website: http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/home/
- South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
- South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/
