Newark officials are extending a Code Blue Protocol this weekend as New Jersey braces for another round of dangerously cold temperatures. The city is also calling on residents to help officials reach vulnerable populations.
Temperatures are expected to be in the single digits over the next few days. A Code Blue is already in effect for the city.
Officials say emergency housing shelters are available, shelter bed placement requirements are being relaxed and shelter bed capacities have been expanded.
Newark’s Homeless Services Outreach team will also be deployed in vans to scour the city for people who need shelter.
“There's also the text program here in the city called Path Home. You can text 85511 and when that text message goes out, it goes to an outreach worker. You’ll get a prompt where you can provide details on exactly where you see the emergency and then we’ll deploy an outreach member there so that we can immediately provide assistance,” says Ketlen Alsbrook, director of the Newark Department of Health.
There have been almost 70 Code Blue alerts issued for Newark this winter. The current one is in effect until Feb. 11.