Code Blue Weather Emergency For Morris County: What To Know

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — A Code Blue Weather Emergency is currently in effect for Morris County through Monday night, officials said.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are anticipated to drop into the low 30s Thursday and Friday night. The code blue will be in effect from Wednesday through Monday at 7 a.m., officials confirmed.

A Code Blue declaration is issued in Morris County when dangerously cold weather threatens individuals or families who do not have shelter. During the declaration, the county aims to provide short-term shelter in clean, safe locations.

The Morris County Office of Temporary Assistance can help with temporary shelter assistance, warming center assistance, rental assistance and utility assistance.

During business hours, many public libraries, shopping malls and senior centers serve as warming centers. These locations are intended to serve as a temporary location for a person to warm up, not as a shelter.

"Protecting vulnerable people during extreme weather is one of the guardian roles of law enforcement officers, who are typically aware of homeless and at-risk people in their communities and know what needs to be done to help those people survive the night," Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon said.

Here are some tips on how to keep homes safe and cope with extreme winter weather:

• Stay indoors as much as possible.
• Check all windows and doors for drafts.
• Do not leave space heaters unattended.
• Do not use generators indoors.
• Have a “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.
• Never use your oven to warm up your home.

Additional after-hours and overnight warming centers will be listed for public viewing here.