PHILADELPHIA— The City of Philadelphia is urging residents to be prepared for the effects of the extended period of dangerously cold weather forecasted by the National Weather Service that will impact the region through next week. The effects of the below-freezing temperatures for at least 13 days so far have made conditions dangerous and pose serious risk to personal health, home and critical infrastructure throughout the city.
Forecasts show temperatures will remain below freezing through next week, with nighttime temps that will feel in the single digits with wind chill. While daytime temperatures are expected to rise into the 30s next Tuesday, Philadelphia is forecasted to dip below zero and remain extremely cold throughout the night and early morning.
City departments and partner agencies are working around the clock to protect residents and maintain essential services during the extreme cold. Snow and ice removal continues in all neighborhoods.
“We are now seeing the lasting effects of the extreme cold temperatures on our people, our city’s aging infrastructure, on the homes and buildings throughout the city, and even on the rivers, which are the source of drinking water for 1.6 million people,” said Adam K. Thiel, Managing Director of the City of Philadelphia. “Prolonged exposure to these temperatures can quickly become dangerous – even deadly- so we are stressing that preparation and awareness are the most effective ways to stay safe.”
Extending Warming Center, Shelters and Support Services
The Office of Homeless Services continues to operate in an Enhanced Code Blue. This declaration prompted the City to once again open warming centers throughout Philadelphia, providing a safe location indoors for all residents in need. Many coming to the warming centers are coming in from sleeping on the streets, but others are coming when their heat or water experience problems. In addition to the temporary warming centers at recreation centers and libraries, shelters throughout the city continue to provide services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
“During this Enhanced Code Blue, no one will be turned away from a warming center, where shelter placement and connections to other services are also available,” said Cheryl Hill, Executive Director of the Office of Homeless Services. “Our list of warming centers changes daily, so we encourage people to check www.phila.gov/GetWarm or Office of Homeless Services on X for a current list. We ask everyone to help us get more people inside by calling 215-232-1984 if you see someone who’s unsheltered and unprotected. We will help them.”
The city’s Emergency Operations Center was opened by the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management (OEM) with partner agencies from Police, Fire, Parks and Recreation, Office of Homeless Services, and Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) to coordinate operations and response during the Enhanced Code Blue and are monitoring conditions and possible impacts of extreme cold.
“We are urging the public to stay connected to important information through the free ReadyPhiladelphia Alert & Warning Program by texting READYPHILA to 888777 or customizing email or text alerts by visiting www.phila.gov/ready, available in multiple languages including American Sign Language,” said Dominick Mireles, Deputy Managing Director of Community Safety. “Since the extreme cold impacts roadways, waterways, and many services the City provides, signing up for alerts ensures we can share information with people in real time.”
Prioritizing Health and Safety
The Department of Public Health reminds residents to watch for signs of hypothermia, a life-threatening condition marked by a body temperature below 95 degrees. Symptoms include shivering, exhaustion, confusion or memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness.
“Anyone experiencing these signs or see people who are showing signs, should move indoors immediately,” said Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, Commissioner, Department of Public Health. “Call 911 right away if it is deemed a medical emergency. We cannot stress enough how important it is as a resident to please check on your neighbors who are elderly, ill or disabled to make sure they are safe and well in these prolonged freezing conditions.”
Freezing temperatures also result in more people using electric/portable heaters, which can cause a fire if not used properly.
“The Philadelphia Fire Code permits the use of portable kerosene heaters in one- and two- family dwellings only. Portable propane heaters can be used outdoors only. When purchasing a new portable heater, select those with the mark of an independent testing laboratory. Use and maintain the heater by following manufacturer’s instructions,” said Jeffrey Thompson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Fire Department.
Protecting Home and Utilities
Extreme cold impacts infrastructure and can cause power outages, frozen pipes, and broken water mains; prolonged freezing temperatures can cause pipes and the ground to expand and contract, and very cold river water can also make water mains break more easily. Those factors can help to explain why more than half of Philadelphia’s water main breaks occur during the coldest months in a typical year.
If you believe you have no water because of a water main break or see a leak in the street, call (215) 685-6300 and select the emergency option. The Water Department emergency crews will investigate the report.
If customers lose water service or have reduced flow, it is important to act quickly and check for frozen pipes on the property. The best way to check for frozen pipes is to ask neighbors on the block if they have water. If others have water and you don’t, it’s likely you have frozen pipes. The Philadelphia Water Department does not assist with customer-owned frozen pipes; a plumber should be called.
The Water Department recommends taking these steps to protect your pipes from becoming damaged. Pipes are most at risk of freezing or bursting when the temperature does not go above freezing for 72 hours or longer.
Take simple steps to reduce your chances of experiencing a frozen water meter or burst pipes during the upcoming storm and freezing temperatures.
- If you have pipes you can’t keep above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, or they’ve frozen before, let a faucet drip overnight during an extended freeze your faucet drip overnight when water is not being used.
- Keep the area around your water meter above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and cover and drafty or cracked windows near exposed pipes.
- Check your water faucets for water flow and pressure before you sleep and again when you wake up. The first sign of freezing is reduced water flow from a faucet.
.Visit here for more info: https://water.phila.gov/drops/frozen-pipes/
To be fully prepared in the event of a service interruption to utilities or supply chain disruption due to severe weather, the Office of Emergency Management recommends that residents store water as part of building their home emergency kit. The Department recommends all residents have a three-day supply of water, either tap water stored in containers or retail purchased, as part of an emergency kit. Each household should be prepared with a three-day supply that includes one gallon of water per person – including pets – per day.
“Extremely cold weather complicates Water Department operations,” said Benjamin Jewell, Commissioner, Philadelphia Water Department. “Our cold-weather emergency operations provide for enhanced staffing and monitoring of the City’s three drinking water treatment plants and their river intakes. The City’s three plants are fully functioning at this time.”
Here’s how the Water Department is managing the situation:
- Repairing water mains as quickly as possible to reduce water waste
- Additional staffing at plants and intergovernmental collaboration to keep ice from our intakes
- 24/7 monitoring of our water treatment process, storage, and distribution system
Cold-weather operations and river monitoring are supported by the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, and other partners.