Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services, advises municipalities that Camden County will be under a “Code Blue” severe weather emergency through Saturday morning.
The Health Officer issued the severe weather advisory for Camden County effective through 6 a.m. Jan. 4. A Code Blue Weather Emergency is activated when the county approved Weather Service predicts severe weather conditions below the code blue weather advisory limit.
“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,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department. “With treacherous weather already settled into the area and getting worse by the hour, we need everyone to be sheltered and out of the elements.”
The latest forecast obtained by Camden County shows the potential for up to seven inches of snow overnight with the possibility of flurries as early as this afternoon. The bulk of the storm will arrive after 7 p.m. Tonight’s moderate and steady snow will be accompanied by gusty winds as temperatures drop into the teens. The snow will wind down early tomorrow, although blowing and drifting snow is likely to recover ground surfaces. There will also be dangerous wind chill values from tonight into Friday night.
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.
