Cold weather is gripping Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware through the holidays, with low temperatures in the teens forecast for Sunday and Monday. Lows will float in the mid-20s through the Christmas holidays, says our NEXT Weather team.
With these cold temperatures, counties in the Philadelphia area have issued a “Code Blue” alert, activating warming shelters for those in need.
Authorities are urging residents to bring pets indoors in cold weather and to look out for each other, especially elderly neighbors and the homeless.
Here are some places to keep warm and phone numbers to call for help.
Code Blue Alerts in Pennsylvania
Bucks County
Bucks County issued a Code Blue on Saturday, December 21, 2024 as forecast cold temperatures dip below 20 degrees for two or more consecutive days.
Three shelters have been activated for this warning:
Higher dollars
Quakertown Masonic Lodge – First Floor
501 W. Broad St
Quakertown, PA 18951
Opens at 8:30 PM
Central Bucks
Neshaminy Warwick Presbyterian Church
1401 Meetinghouse Rd
Warminster, PA 18974
Opens at 7:30 PM
Lower dollars
Shir Ami Synagogue
101 Richboro Newtown Rd.
Newtown, PA 18940
Opens at 8:30 PM
Bucks County’s Code Blue is in effect nightly through December 24.
Philadelphia county
The city’s Office of Homeless Services says a Code Blue will be active until noon on Christmas Eve, December 24. If you need to help someone living outside, you can contact the city’s Homeless Street Outreach Hotline at 215-232-1984.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County has been in a Code Blue since Dec. 18 and will remain in a state of emergency until 9 a.m. on Dec. 24. County residents in need of emergency shelter during a Code Blue can call the Your Way Home Call Center at 610-278-3522.
Code Blue Alerts in New Jersey
According to the NJ211 website, there are Code Blue warnings in all 21 New Jersey counties, excluding Hunterdon. You can get more information by calling 211 or texting your New Jersey zip code to 898-211.
The start and end dates for the warnings vary by province, but are all in effect until Sunday, December 22.
You can find a list of warming centers for your province via the link above.
Additionally, major cities, including Atlantic City and Trenton, are making their own resources available during Code Blue.
Atlantic City’s Code Blue is in effect Saturday through 8 a.m. December 24. The Atlantic City Rescue Mission at 2009 Bacharach Boulevard is open to anyone in need of food and shelter.
When available, Atlantic City police officers will provide transportation to the mission, the city’s Office of Emergency Management said in a news release.
In Trenton, the Sam Naples Senior Center at 611 Chestnut Avenue will be open as a warming shelter, Mayor W. Reed Gusciora announced in a news release. Anyone needing transportation should call 609-989-3462.
The Trenton Rescue Mission is a designated Code Blue shelter for Mercer County and will be open 24 hours a day.
“Code Purple” in Delaware
Delaware’s term for Code Blue is Code Purple. Shelters will be ready to help those in need on December 21 and 22, according to a release from the Friendship House of Delaware.
Anyone in need can contact the nearest Friendship House empowerment center. A list is available at this link.
