City Activates Freeze Plan for Homeless, Urges Residents & Visitors to Stay Safe & Warm During Cold Weather

According to the National Weather Service, a very cold air mass will settle over the New Orleans area Sunday night and will remain in place through Thursday. The coldest temperatures will be Monday night into Tuesday morning and Tuesday night into Wednesday morning with many areas seeing lows below freezing. Residents and visitors are advised to take precautions during cold weather.

Shelter for the Homeless

The City is activating the Citywide Freeze Plan (CFP) beginning the evening of Sunday, Dec. 31, and ending the morning of Thursday, Jan. 4, as the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature or wind chill to fall below the plan’s activation threshold of 35 degrees. The City's freeze plan will be in effect to provide temporary overnight shelter for homeless residents. The public is asked to call the New Orleans Police Department non-emergency number, 504-821-2222, to report someone in need of shelter.

Individuals needing shelter will be accepted, free of charge, at the following locations under the following conditions:

• The Salvation Army, 4530 South Claiborne Ave. – will accept men and women beginning at 4 p.m.
• Ozanam Inn, 843 Camp St. – will accept men only beginning at 4 p.m.
• Covenant House, 611 North Rampart St. – will accept men and women between the ages of 16 to 21, their dependent children, and any woman with dependent minor children. Open 24/7.
• New Orleans Mission, 1130 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. – will accept men and women beginning at 4 p.m.

Cold Weather Preparedness for Residents & Visitors

Residents are urged to bring pets inside and to check on neighbors and the elderly during cold weather. If spending time outside during this weekend’s festivities, individuals are encouraged to wear layers, a hat and gloves and to carry a cell phone.

Additionally, residents are advised to prepare their homes for cold weather, taking fire safety precautions. Space heaters should never be left unattended and a stove or an oven should never be used to heat the home. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be checked to be sure they are working.

Water pipes can be damaged from prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Residents and property owners are encouraged to protect against damage by insulating exposed pipes, running a “pencil lead thin” (1/16 inch) stream of water, or turning off water. More information is available in the Sewerage and Water Board’s Guide to Fighting the Freeze.

For more information on winter weather preparedness, visit http://ready.nola.gov/plan/winter/.