Full Notification

City of East Chicago Fire Department / Emergency Management WARMING SHELTER OPEN East Chicago — The City East Chicago Fire Department advised that due to the extreme cold weather, the Riley Hall at Riley Park located: 1005 E.Chicago Ave., East Chicago, Indiana will be a designated “Warming Shelter”. The Center will be open as a warming center from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am, Saturday - Tuesday, January 13 - 16, 2024 due to inclement weather. *The parameters for opening a warming shelter in the City of East Chicago is a wind chill below zero degrees for 2 consecutive days. Hours for the warming shelter are 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 am. COVID GUIDELINES: Everyone entering the shelter must wear a mask. Temperatures will be checked prior to entering. Hand sanitizer will be available. Maintain safe social distancing within the center. Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold, residents are strongly encouraged to do the following: Add the following supplies to your emergency kit: · Rock salt or more environmentally safe products to melt ice on walkways. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency website at fhttps://www.epa.gov/snep/winter-coming-and-it-tons-salt-our-roads for a complete list of recommendations. · Sand to improve traction. · Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment. · Sufficient heating fuel. You may become isolated in your home and regular fuel sources may be cut off. Store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove. · Adequate clothing and blankets to keep you warm. · Make a Family Communications Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency. · Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or other local news channels for critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS). Be alert to changing weather conditions. · Minimize travel. If travel is necessary, keep a disaster supplies kit in your vehicle. · Bring pets/companion animals inside during winter weather. Move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas with non-frozen drinking water. During Winter Storms and Extreme Cold · Stay indoors during the storm. · Walk carefully on snowy, icy, walkways. · Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow. Overexertion can bring on a heart attack—a major cause of death in the winter. If you must shovel snow, stretch before going outside. · Keep dry. Change wet clothing frequently to prevent a loss of body heat. Wet clothing loses all of its insulating value and transmits heat rapidly. · Watch for signs of frostbite. These include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately. · Watch for signs of hypothermia. These include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected, get the victim to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first and give warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the victim is conscious. Get medical help as soon as possible. · Drive only if it is absolutely necessary. If you must drive: travel in the day; don’t travel alone; keep others informed of your schedule; stay on main roads and avoid back road shortcuts. · Let someone know your destination, your route, and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route. · If the pipes freeze, remove any insulation or layers of newspapers and wrap pipes in rags. Completely open all faucets and pour hot water over the pipes, starting where they were most exposed to the cold (or where the cold was most likely to penetrate). · Maintain ventilation when using kerosene heaters to avoid build-up of toxic fumes. Refuel kerosene heaters outside and keep them at least three feet from flammable objects. · Conserve fuel, if necessary, by keeping your residence cooler than normal. Temporarily close off heat to some rooms. · If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55ºF. After Winter Storms and Extreme Cold · Continue to protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia by wearing warm, loose-fitting, lightweight clothing in several layers. Stay indoors, if possible. ### For more information, press only: Steve Segura 400 E. Chicago Avenue East Chicago, In 46312 219-391-8206 [email protected] For more information about the City of East Chicago visit: www.eastchicago.com