WASHINGTON — Officials in the District have activated the city’s Cold Emergency Plan, starting Dec. 27 at 7 p.m. The Cold Emergency Alert is projected to remain active until 7 a.m. on Jan. 2, 2018.
D.C.’s Department of Human Services and D.C.’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency issued the alert.
Cold Emergency Alerts occur when weather forecasts present a danger to residents when they are outdoors. These alerts are put in place by temperature and wind chill below 15 degrees, or temperature and wind chill below 20 degrees accompanied by a weather event, such as snow.
The National Weather Service believes temperatures are to remain below freezing through the weekend in the D.C. region, prompting the Emergency Plan to go into effect.
Additional services are provided under the Cold Emergency Plan, especially for those experiencing homelessness. To be transported to a shelter, contact the toll-free Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or by calling 311.
