City Reminds Residents to Practice Cold Weather Safety through the Holiday Weekend

With extremely cold temperatures and windy conditions forecast for the Pensacola area through the Christmas holiday weekend, the City of Pensacola reminds residents to exercise caution and practice cold weather safety.

A Hard Freeze Warning is in effect for the Pensacola area through Christmas morning, with low temperatures dropping into the teens. A Wind Chill Advisory is also in effect through Christmas morning, with dangerously low wind chills in the single digits.

Remember the Five Ps of Cold Weather Safety:

Protect People: Remember to dress in layers and wear a hat and gloves. It is important to try to stay out of the wind and to stay dry. Also, remember to check on young children and elderly family and neighbors who are the most sensitive to cold weather. If the temperature cannot be maintained at a home, make temporary arrangements to stay elsewhere, including with friends and family.
Protect Pets: If cold weather is in the forecast, be sure to bring outdoor pets inside or give them a warm shelter to stay in.
Protect Plants: Cover cold-sensitive plants to protect them from dangerous temperatures.
Protect Pipes: Cover pipes and allow outdoor faucets to slowly drip to prevent freezing and breaking.
Practice Fire Safety: Use safe heating sources indoors. Do not use fuel-burning devices such as grills; they release carbon monoxide, which is a deadly gas. Also, make sure to use space heaters according to their instructions and be attentive to open flames.

Shelter Information

The following organizations are open as cold weather shelters. Please note that the shelters are subject to change and have limited capacity. Anyone in need of a shelter may call 211 for information.

For men only:
- Waterfront Rescue Mission - Acts as an emergency cold weather shelter and modifies its entry hours when the temperature drops below 40 degrees. They open additional areas of the campus with cots for cold weather emergency sheltering. They will also be open all day long Thursday through Sunday as a warming center for anyone. When women come to the shelter, they will work with REAP to coordinate overnight sheltering.
  - Located at 348 W. Herman St.
  - Phone number: 850-478-4027
For women and children only:
- ReEntry Alliance Pensacola or REAP Lodge - The REAP Lodge will house additional women and children utilizing cots in their central room when the temperature drops below 40 degrees.
  - Located at 1310 N. "S" St.
  - Phone number: 850-741-2693
For men with children, families:
- ReEntry Alliance Pensacola or REAP Maxwell Center - REAP Maxwell Center will open their lobby area to men with children, couples and families when the temperature drops below 40 degrees.
  - Located at 1000 W. Blount St.
  - Phone number: 850-332-6677

Heater Safety

Follow these tips to stay safe while heating your home:

Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
Portable space heaters should be turned OFF every time you leave the room and before going to bed.
Never plug a space heater in a power strip.
Install carbon monoxide detectors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
Never use an oven to heat your home.

For portable electric heaters:

Place them on a solid, flat surface, away from high traffic areas and doorways.
Use and purchase heaters with an automatic shut off so if they are tipped over they will shut off.
Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
Inspect for cracked or damaged, broken plugs or loose connections; replace before using.

For more information, monitor the local media and legitimate online and social media sources like Escambia County Emergency Management, US National Weather Service Mobile, and Florida SERT

For more information or general questions, email pio@cityofpensacola.com. To stay informed about what's happening with City of Pensacola government, sign up for email or text notifications through Notify Me or follow @CityofPensacola on social media.