(Washington, DC) DC Government will deploy more than 200 trucks on Saturday, January 14 at 4 am in light of a predicted wintry mix of snow, freezing rain, and sleet. The District Snow Team began pre-treating major streets, highways, bridges, overpasses and other elevated structures with the brine/beet juice mixture to help retard freezing yesterday at 7 pm on Thursday, January 12.
Temperatures Saturday and Saturday night are predicted to be at or below freezing, which can mean streets and sidewalks will freeze. Motorists are asked to drive cautiously and, if possible, take public transportation instead of driving. DC residents should be aware of hazardous road conditions, specifically black ice - a thin, clear sheet of ice that looks like pavement - which can be deceptive in appearance and give the driver a false sense of security on the road.
Additionally, the District will activate the Hypothermia Alert for more support and services to protect DC residents from life-threatening illnesses and injuries associated with severe cold weather.
Key services provided during Hypothermia Alerts include:
- Access to Emergency Shelter – Low-barrier, hypothermia and overflow emergency shelters are open during hypothermia alerts.
- Transportation to Warmth and Safety – Free transportation to an emergency shelter or warming site is provided to anyone experiencing homelessness in the District during a hypothermia alert. To request transportation to shelter for people in DC who are experiencing homelessness, contact the toll-free Shelter Hotline: (202) 399-7093 or 311. Include the time, address or location of the person, and a description of the person’s appearance.
- Families seeking emergency shelter can also visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center at 920 Rhode Island Avenue, NE on Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Families can also call the DC Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311 at any time day or night.
The following are low barrier and alert night emergency shelters:
Hypothermia Alert Night Shelters for Women
- New Covenant Baptist Church: 1301 W Street, SE
- Community of Christ Church: 3526 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
- Sherwood Recreation Center: 640 10th Street, NE
- Nativity Shelter: 6010 Georgia Avenue, NW
Hypothermia Alert Night Shelters for Men
- Banneker Recreation Center: 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW
- Kennedy Recreation Center: 1401 7th Street, NW
- Sacred Heart Church: 16th Street and Park Road, NW
- Salvation Army: 3335 Sherman Avenue, NW
- Community for Creative Non-Violence: 425 2nd Street, NW
- Adams Place Shelter: 2210 Adams Place, NE
- 801 East Shelter: 801 Making Life Better Lane, SE
- Raymond Recreation Center: 3725 10th Street, NW
Co-Ed Hypothermia Alert Night Shelters
- Emery Recreation Center: 5801 Georgia Avenue, NW
- King Greenleaf Recreation Center: 201 N Street, SW
Low-barrier Emergency Shelters for Women
- Harriet Tubman Shelter: DC General Building 9, 1900 Massachusetts Avenue, SE
- Nativity Shelter: 6010 Georgia Avenue, NW
- Patricia Handy Place for Women: 810 5 Street, NW
Low-barrier Emergency Shelters for Men
- 801 East Shelter: 801 Making Life Better Lane, SE
- Adams Place Shelter: 2210 Adams Place, NE
- New York Avenue Shelter: 1355-57 New York Avenue, NE
For information about preparing for winter weather, the District’s snow program, or seeing where District Snow Team plows are working, visit snow.dc.gov.