Allegheny County, City of Pittsburgh Announce Code Blue Saturday Night

Published on January 12, 2024

Allegheny County, City of Pittsburgh Announce Code Blue Beginning Saturday Night

(PITTSBURGH) - A Code Blue Action has been declared by the county Department of Human Services (DHS), together with the City of Pittsburgh, and is in effect throughout the county beginning Saturday night, January 13, 2024, at 7:00 pm. The Code Blue event will continue until Thursday morning, January 18, 2024 at 8:00 am, weather permitting.
 
Code Blue is declared when the air temperature is forecast by the National Weather Service to fall below 26 degrees Fahrenheit between 4:00 PM and 8:00 AM. The plan can also be enacted when the City of Pittsburgh’s Office of Emergency Management activates the Emergency Operations Center in response to severe weather conditions. County, city, and local homeless shelter provider staff have been mobilized to provide support for the Code Blue Action.

During a Code Blue event:

  • Unsheltered individuals will be directed to present for shelter at Second Avenue Commons (700 Second Avenue, Downtown).
  • All DHS shelters serving persons experiencing homelessness will remain open to shelter guests 24 hours per day, while air temperatures remain below 26 degrees Fahrenheit. The county will send another announcement when the Code Blue Action ends.
  • Capacity at shelters will be monitored and if the regular shelters become full, people will be transported to the severe weather emergency shelter. The City of Pittsburgh has identified Ammon Recreation Center (2217 Bedford Ave, Pittsburgh) for this use.

Additionally:

  • Outreach teams will focus their engagement on informing people in the unhoused community about the Code Blue status and offering services and support to access shelter options.
  • As in past winters, City of Pittsburgh Recreation and Healthy Active Living Centers will open as warming locations should the temperature drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Individuals seeking shelter should present at Second Avenue Commons shelter or call the Allegheny Link at 1-866-730-2368.
  • Families seeking shelter should call the Allegheny Link at 1-866-730-2368 or visit 1 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 to meet with a Service Coordinator. Walk-in hours are Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 4:00 pm.
Future alerts regarding the Code Blue activation will be posted on social media. Please follow Allegheny County Department of Human Services for updates (Facebook: ACDHS, Instagram: @acdhsofficial, Twitter @ACDHS).

Media inquiries may be directed to Mark Bertolet, Communications Manager for the Department of Human Services at mark.bertolet@alleghenycounty.us or by phone at 412-350-3439.

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