Warming shelter opens as wind chill advisory takes effect

posted on: 12/15/2016

As cold arctic air moves into the region, the City of Dover has opened a warming shelter. The warming shelter will be open today until 9 p.m. at the McConnell Center cafeteria, 61 Locust St. It will be open again Friday morning at 7 a.m., and remain open until 9 p.m. The cafeteria can be accessed through Door #7 on the St. Thomas Street side of the building.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory for Dover beginning today at 9 p.m. and lasting until 9 a.m. on Friday.

Arctic air will move into the area this evening, bringing with it strong winds and cold air. Temperatures are expected to fall below zero, with winds producing dangerous wind chills that may reach 24 degrees below zero at times. Cold weather will persist throughout the day Friday.

Dover Fire Chief Eric Hagman urges residents to take precautions as the temperatures drop below zero tonight.

• When outdoors, wear warm clothing, such as hats, gloves and jackets. Avoid staying outside unprotected for long periods. At the first signs of skin redness or pain, get out of the cold and protect any exposed skin. Watch for skin that has turned white or grayish, and feels firm, waxy or numb. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of these symptoms.
• Limit your time outdoors. Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite among elderly adults, babies, and others at risk. Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect someone has hypothermia or frostbite.
• Check on elderly neighbors and be aware of pets’ needs during extreme cold weather.
• Walk carefully on snowy, icy, walkways.
• Ensure you have sufficient heating fuel, as well as emergency heating equipment in case you lose electricity.
• When utilizing alternate heating sources, such as your fireplace, wood stove or space heater, take the necessary safety precautions and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Keep a fire extinguisher handy; ensuring everyone knows how to use it properly. Test smoke alarms and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detectors.
• If you lose power, close off unneeded rooms, stuff towels or rags in the cracks under doors and cover windows at night.
• To keep pipes from freezing, wrap pipes in insulation, heat tape or layers of old newspapers. Cover the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture and let faucets drip a little to avoid freezing.
• Learn how to shut off water valves in case a pipe bursts. If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags.
• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house.

For more information, contact Dover Fire & Rescue at 603-516-6148.