Montgomery County declares Code blue due to cold

NORRISTOWN Color Montgomery County blue once again. Code blue, that is.

County commissioners heeded the advice of the Department of Public Safety and have declared a Code Blue Weather Emergency that will run until 9 a.m. on Monday.

A Code Blue Weather Emergency is when there is "extreme, life-threatening weather, defined as a windchill factor of 20 degrees or below," the county's website says.

The declaration triggers expanded social services for people, such as homeless adults and families, who are more vulnerable to the frigid weather.

The Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center, a shelter on the grounds of the Norristown State Hospital, already has been full - actually more than full.

About 70 people are at the shelter, said director Genny O'Donnell, mainly due to the cold.

"Anybody who was trying to make it out there can't make it out there but is making their way to our door," she said.

When the shelter is over capacity, more cots are set up in the large, dormitory-style rooms.

The homeless outreach center is for single adults. Families are housed at Salvation Army facilities in Norristown and Pottstown. Those needing emergency shelter may call the county's Homeless Prevention Center hotline at 1-877-646-6306.

- Carolyn Davis