'Check On Elderly, Disabled' Somerville Mayor Urges In Statement

SOMERVILLE, MA — With temperatures expected to feel as cold as minus 47 degrees on Saturday morning, Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne on Friday reminded everyone to stay safe and look to help others.

"Our area is facing a historic cold weather event and I urge everyone, in the strongest possible terms, to stay safe, be prepared, and do what Somerville always does best, which is check in on your neighbors especially the elderly, persons with disabilities, or others who may need assistance," Ballantyne said in a statement.

The mayor said residents should not hesitate to contact the Somerville Police Department via 911 to report emergencies or persons in distress. Residents also should contact 311 to report power outages and other non-emergency needs.

Meanwhile, Ballantyne said the Somerville PD will search for unsheltered persons and help them to access shelter.

The mayor said her office is communicating with all city departments to ensure the city is prepared to respond to any potential infrastructure impacts resulting from the cold weather.

Ballantyne said the city is using social media to remind residents about safety tips during extreme cold.

"For anyone who must brave the weather — please take proper precautions to protect yourself, frostbite can occur in a matter of minutes during the predicted temperatures," Ballantyne said.

According to AccuWeather, temperatures on Friday night are expected to drop to minus 4 degrees, though will feel like minus 37 degrees.

By 6 a.m. Saturday, temperatures are expected to be minus 10 degrees and feel like minus 47 degrees.

The ReelFeel temperature is finally expected to rise above zero degrees at around 8 p.m. Saturday.