Resources Available for Hypothermia Season
Friday, November 1, 2024
Accessible, On-Demand Transportation to Shelter is Available by Calling (202) 399-7093 or 311
(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser is urging residents to stay vigilant and support neighbors throughout Hypothermia Season, which runs from November 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025. During Hypothermia Season, the District often experiences cold temperatures and hazardous weather events.
“We look out for each other in Washington, DC, and when it’s cold outside, we ask everyone to be extra vigilant,” said Mayor Bowser. “As the days and nights get colder, let’s work together to keep our community safe and healthy.”
To request accessible transportation for yourself or someone else, call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by dialing 311. If you believe there is an immediate medical emergency, call 911.
Residents may see two types of notifications this Hypothermia Season:
Hypothermia Alert
The District will issue a Hypothermia Alert when the National Weather Service (NWS) published forecast indicates that the following threshold criteria are met (including wind chill):
Daytime: actual or forecasted temperature is 32°F or below
Overnight: when the temperature is forecasted to be either:
40°F or below and the predicted chance of precipitation is 50% or greater, OR
32°F or below
Cold Weather Emergency
The District will issue a Cold Weather Emergency when the temperature falls or is forecasted to fall to:
15°F or below, OR
20°F and one or more of the following conditions exists:
Steady precipitation for 60 consecutive minutes
Snow accumulation of 3 inches or more
Other meteorological conditions or threats as determined by HSEMA
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, especially in 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 are outside, please call 311 or the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093
The District opens Hypothermia Overflow Sites to ensure there are warm, safe places to be for anyone experiencing homelessness. For a list of shelters, visit cold.dc.gov
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 ready.dc.gov/winterwx
Low-Barrier Shelters:
Low-barrier shelters for individuals operate year-round. All low-barrier shelters remain open 24 hours (except where noted).
Men
801 East Men’s Shelter – 2722 Martin L. King Jr Avenue SE
Adams Place – 2210 Adams Place NE
Emery Shelter – 1725 Lincoln Road NE
New York Ave NE – 1355 New York Avenue NE
Living Life Alternatives (LGBTQ+) – 400 50th Street SE
Women
Harriet Tubman – 1910 Massachusetts Avenue SE
Pat Handy – 810 5th Street NW
St. Josephine Bakhita (7pm-7am only) – 6010 Georgia Avenue NW
Living Life Alternatives (LGBTQ+) – 400 50th Street SE
LGBTQ+
Living Life Alternatives (LGBTQ+) – 400 50th Street SE
Overflow Shelters:
The following overflow sites will be open from 7 pm to 7 am once the first Hypothermia Alert of the season occurs. When there is a Cold Weather Emergency, overflow sites extend their hours to 24/7, operating around the clock until the emergency is lifted. Additional overflow sites will be added when the District's shelter system reaches 80 percent capacity.
Men
801 East Day Center – 2722 Martin L. King Jr Avenue SE
Federal City-1 North – 425 2nd Street NW
Church of the Epiphany – 1317 G Street NW
Emery-Overflow – 1725 Lincoln Road NE
Salvation Army – 3335 Sherman Avenue NW
Women
Eve’s Place – 2210B Adams Place NE
Swing Space – 1009 11th Street NW
CCNV-2 South – 2100 New York Avenue NE
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 x.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 cold.dc.gov, and information will be available via in-person inquiries at open Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) stations, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) stations, DC Public Library (DCPL) locations, and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) centers.