Keep Pets, Loved Ones Safe As 'Code Blue' Weather Warning Issued In Camden Co.

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — With cold weather incoming, Camden County officials have issued a "Code Blue" and are offering tips to keep elderly and disabled loved ones, as well as pets, safe and warm.

Local municipalities are also mobilizing resources for transient or unhoused people who may not otherwise have shelter, the county said.

Camden County is under a Code Blue Advisory from 7 p.m. Monday evening until 7 a.m. Thursday morning, because temperatures will drop below 26 degrees. Commissioner Virginia Betteridge encouraged residents to check in on elderly and disabled neighbors or loved ones, and to bring companion animals inside the house.

“Conditions will be dangerously cold these next few nights, so it’s crucial that everyone is inside and away from the elements,” Betteridge said. “It’s also important that our elderly residents and those living with disabilities have their heat in working order and that all pets are brought indoors.”

A storm system will reach the Garden State on Thursday, threatening to bring wintry conditions to New Jersey. Early indications predict the precipitation will hit the southwest to the northeast part of the state during the day Thursday with the storm potentially lasting into a portion of Friday, said NWS. Read more — Major Storm Could Drop Sleet, Snow On NJ This Week: Forecast

Forecasters are warning that the storm is still a few days out and predictions could change. More updates will be released as the storm creeps closer.

“If you know of anyone who is elderly or disabled, please check on them to make sure they’re prepared to stay safe in these dangerous temperatures,” Betteridge said.

During the advisory, municipalities with homeless populations, situational homeless or transient populations are expected to activate their Code Blue response plan to accommodate their immediate needs.

Each municipality has identified its own location to accommodate those in their community seeking shelter from the severe weather.

Anyone seeking shelter in a warming center should contact their local municipality, the county said. Additional resources are available by calling the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 800-999-9045, or by visiting www.camdencounty.com. Anyone who needs shelter can call 2-1-1 for the after-hours code blue emergency hotline.

Betteridge and the health department offer the following tips to keep pets safe during the extreme temperatures:

• When the thermometer dips below 32 degrees, keep your pet indoors as much as possible. If your pet must stay outside, provide a warm shelter, raised a few inches off the ground, with the opening facing away from the wind and covered with a burlap or plastic flap. The shelter should be large enough for the animal to stand and turn around, but small enough to retain its body heat.

• If your pet is outdoors for extended periods when temperatures are below freezing (32 degrees), be alert for signs of distress from the cold. Just like in people, shivering is a sign that the body temperature is dropping. If you see your pet shivering, it is probably time to bring it inside. Remember, your pet’s body temperature is between 101-102 degrees and its body temperature lowers faster in cold weather.

• A very young, very old pet or a pet with a health problem is more vulnerable to cold.

• An animal with thick fur can tolerate cold longer than a small animal and one with short hair.

• Don’t leave your pet in an unheated vehicle for extended periods of time.

• Make sure your pet has clean unfrozen drinking water. Do not let your pet drink from puddles where there may be deadly antifreeze or other harmful chemicals.

• A pet can pick up rock salt, ice and other melting chemicals in their foot pads. This can harm your pet. Massaging petroleum jelly into paw pads before going outside helps to protect from salt and chemical agents. Moisturizing after a good toweling off helps to heal chapped paws. Wipe your pet’s feet with a damp cloth when it comes inside to protect its pads from damage. If this is a problem for your pet, there are boots available in all sizes. Your dog can get used to wearing the boots indoors for short periods of time. Not all dogs take to them.

• If there are outside cats in the neighborhood, knock on the hood of your vehicle and look under it before starting your engine and driving off. Cats sometimes curl up next to or under warm engines when they are left out in the cold.

• Antifreeze has an attractive scent and taste for animals and is extremely poisonous! Be especially vigilant about the ingestion of antifreeze. The first sign of antifreeze poisoning is a pet that appears drunk. Immediately get your pet to the vet if you suspect it has ingested antifreeze as it can be fatal within four to eight hours of ingestion.

In case of a power outage, the county asks residents to report it directly to the appropriate utility provider list below:

• PSE&G: 1-800-436-PSEG (7734)
• PSEG website: https://nj.pseg.com/outageandg...
• Atlantic City Electric: 1-800-833-7476

• Atlantic City Electric Website: https://www.atlanticcityelectr...
• South Jersey Gas: 1-800-582-7060
• South Jersey Gas website: http://southjerseygas.com/