Mayor Bowser Activates Hypothermia Alert, Urges Residents to be Vigilant and Request Transportation for Neighbors in Need of Shelter from the Cold

(Washington, DC) –  Due to the current temperatures and forecast of extreme cold weather, Mayor Muriel Bowser has activated a hypothermia alert starting at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a freeze watch for the District of Columbia overnight. The overnight temperature from Wednesday night into Thursday morning is expected to be 33 degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill 29 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Residents are encouraged to stay warm and vigilant and to help neighbors experiencing homelessness in need of shelter by calling the Shelter Hotline. You can request transportation for yourself or someone else by calling the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by dialing 311. If you believe there is an immediate medical emergency, call 911. The alert will stay activated until conditions improve.

Hypothermia Safety Precautions:

• Stay inside if you can.
• Cover up and limit exposed skin when you go outside.
• Check on your neighbors and learn the signs of hypothermia - young children, the elderly, and those with access and functional needs are the most vulnerable in our community.
• To request free, accessible shelter transportation for residents who are experiencing homelessness and outside, please call 311 or the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093. The District opens Hypothermia Shelters to ensure there are warm, safe places to be for anyone experiencing homelessness. For a list of shelters, visit https://dhs.dc.gov/service/hypo-hyperthermia-watch.
• For all animal emergencies, including animals left outside in extreme temperatures, call the Humane Rescue Alliance at 202-723-5730.
• For additional cold weather information and preparedness tips, visit https://ready.dc.gov/winterwx.

Low-Barrier Shelters:
Low-barrier shelters for individuals operate year-round. All low-barrier shelters remain open 24 hours.

Men

• 801 East Shelter at 2722 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE
• Adams Place Shelter at 2210 Adams Place NE
• Emery Shelter at 1725 Lincoln Road NE
• New York Avenue Shelter at 1355-57 New York Avenue NE

LGTBQ+

• Living Life Alternatives at 400 50th Street SE

Women

• Harriet Tubman Shelter for Women at 1910 Massachusetts Avenue SE
• Patricia Handy Place for Women Extension at 1009 11th Street NW
• Saint Josephine Bakhita at 6010 Georgia Avenue NW

Hypothermia Overflow Shelters:
The following hypothermia overflow sites are open from 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. during the entire hypothermia season from November 1 to March 31.

Men

• Church of Epiphany at 1317 G Street NW
• KBEC- Family Life Center at 4100 South Capitol Street SE
• Salvation Army at 3335 Sherman Avenue NW
• Naylor Road at 2603 Naylor Road SE
• Emery at 1725 Lincoln Road NE

Women

• Eve’s Place at 2210B Adams Place NE
• Salvation Army- Harbor Lights at 2100 New York Avenue NE
• Naylor Road at 2601 Naylor Road SE

Families experiencing homelessness or needing warming items can call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center at 920-A Rhode Island Ave NE.

Hypothermia alert updates are shared through twitter.com/AlertDC and the AlertDC notifications system, for which residents can sign up for email and text message updates at alert.dc.gov. Notices will also be posted on the DHS website at dhs.dc.gov, and information will be available via in-person inquiries at open MPD stations, Fire and Emergency Medical Services stations, public libraries, and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) centers. The alert status is also sent out to individuals experiencing homelessness who have signed up for alerts via the HopeOneSource free text messaging app.

Social Media:

Mayor Bowser Twitter: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos