Bundle up, Rhode Island. Record cold weather with wind chill – but short-lived

State officials have been working hard to prepare the state for the weather to come. While the cold will be a record, not seen for about 6 years, it also may hold a record for the shortest cold spell.

Providence schools are closed, and other communities may follow along – check with your local school website. There is not a statewide school closure. Boston schools are closed and other Massachusetts communities may follow along.

Rhode Islanders in need of assistance or additional support are encouraged to call 2-1-1 to find available options.

From the National Weather Service:

…WIND CHILL WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM FRIDAY TO 10 AM EST
SATURDAY…

• WHAT…Dangerously cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low
  as 30 below zero.
• WHERE…Northern Connecticut, all of Rhode Island except Block
  Island, the Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts, as well as
  southeast Massachusetts and Cape Cod.
• WHEN…From 10 AM Friday to 10 AM EST Saturday.
• IMPACTS…The cold wind chills could cause frostbite on
  exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.
• ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Lowest wind chills are expected Friday
  night.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Avoid outside activities if possible. When outside, make sure you wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.

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Governor’s office

The McKee Administration is reminding Rhode Islanders of the resources and health guidance available to help keep residents safe during the extreme cold temperatures forecasted for Friday and Saturday. The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA), Department of Housing, Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Office of Energy Resources (OER) have been leading the State’s preparedness efforts throughout the week.

RIEMA has been working with cities and towns across Rhode Island to ensure warming centers are prepared for an increase in demand. For a full list of warming centers in Rhode Island, click here.

The Department of Housing has enacted its emergency weather policies to provide additional support to homeless shelter providers. These measures went into effect on Tuesday, January 31 and will remain in effect until 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 5:

• All shelter facilities have been asked to extend their operating hours during the inclement weather to assure shelter clients are safe.
• The State will fund transportation costs to transport individuals in need to the 24/7 Warming Station at the Cranston Street Armory. This includes RIPTA RIPTIKs and Uber rides for individuals living in rural and outlying communities.
• The Department of Housing has notified its network of provider partners that they may incur additional costs up to $1,000, without prior approval, to maintain safe operations during this period of inclement weather. This includes costs associated with staffing community rooms or other common areas in order to expand capacity at existing shelter facilities.

RIDOH earlier today shared a public health reminder to all Rhode Islanders about ways to stay safe and healthy during extreme cold conditions. According to RIDOH, extreme cold can cause hypothermia, frostbite, and can contribute to events like household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. The best way to protect your health against extreme cold is to prepare yourself, your home, and your car before extremely cold weather.

OER is in close communication with Rhode Island Energy (RIE) as they continue to prepare for the incoming cold snap expected to impact the region starting tonight and lasting through Saturday, as well as the windy conditions forecast from 8 a.m. through midnight. The RIE gas team continues to be ready for the drop in temperatures with the LNG facilities on standby and staffed to vaporize as needed, as well as the interruptible/non-firm customer curtailment and gas DR event being called over the next two days. RIE has additionally secured incremental electric resources and have additional crews available as needed.

For additional information, visit RIDOH’s page on Winter Health Tips or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page on Extreme Cold.

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24/7 WARMING CENTERS

Crossroads RI

Providence Rescue Mission

Cranston Street Armory

9 Providence Community Libraries (check for closing times – may be closed and open again in a.m.)

Diocese of Providence: Emmanuel House Warming Center

Emmanuel House, the homeless shelter of the Diocese of Providence is operating 24 hours a day as both a shelter and state warming center for the duration of the cold weather. Those seeking shelter or warmth can call Emmanuel House at 401-421-7888 or go directly to Emmanuel House at 239 Public Street, Providence. Emmanuel House is a ministry of the Diocese of Providence funded by the Catholic Charity Appeal. For additional information on Emmanuel House, see https://dioceseofprovidence.org/homeless-shelter

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Cranston Warming Centers

Cranston Warming Center Hours

Overnight

The Senior Center, 1070 Cranston Street, is open Friday at 9 a.m. and will be staffed as an overnight warming center until 9 a.m. Saturday.

Daytime locations

The Cranston Public Library Central branch, 140 Sockanosset Crossroad, is open Monday to Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Thursday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please call 401-943-9080 with any questions.

The Auburn Branch, 396 Pontiac Ave., is open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Knightsville Branch, 1847 Cranston St., is open Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Saturday.

The Oaklawn Branch, 230 Wilbur Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Edward Costa Memorial Arlington Branch, 1064 Cranston St., is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, and closed Saturday.

The William Hall Library, 1825 Broad St., will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After hours, please call CCAP at 401-467-9610.

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Homeless in Pawtucket:

Pawtucket Announces Opening of Warming Shelter at 1139 Main Street

Pawtucket is officially opening the doors to a new warming shelter at 1139 Main Street for this weekend, on an emergency basis. 

The shelter will be open starting TODAY, February 3 at 7:00 am through Monday, February 6, around the clock (24/7). Additionally, the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen will also be preparing three fresh meals per day.

In accordance with the State Fire Marshal, the building only allows for sixteen cots but has plenty of tables and chairs as well as additional space for anyone to rest and enjoy a meal throughout the day. 

“We are incredibly relieved, that this warming center will be open before the dangerous temperatures this weekend,” said Mayor Donald R. Grebien. “I want to thank Brother Gary and Black Lives Matter Rhode Island and other community partners for their advocacy and services, as well as the Pawtucket Housing Authority, our Department of Public Works and Planning Department, the Pawtucket Soup Kitchen, as well as our Emergency Management team. Without them, this shelter would not be a reality.”

For this weekend, the shelter will be run and monitored by Brother Gary Dantzler, of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, as well as their volunteers. The city is appreciative of their service. 

The City of Pawtucket and the Pawtucket Housing Authority have been working with the state for almost a year to get this building up and running. The state is taking the lead on securing a permanent service provider and a request for proposal process is expected to go out in the next few days. 

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Other tips:

Auto – fill your tank at least over 1/2 full, prepare an emergency kit for your car, including a blanket. For electric vehicles, severe cold can reduce the distance by 50%. Take your car for a quick drive to get all the fluids going. Before you start your car turn off all the ancillary power drains – the radio, phone charger, seat warmers, etc.

Thermostats – set to at least 65 – higher if you can. If you heat by oil it only takes about 7 gallons to heat your home for the day – even if you have only 1/4 tank of oil left you should be fine until this passes.

Smoke Detectors/CO Monitors – Switch out the batteries to new ones – especially if you are using space heaters

Providence Water Provides Tips to Avoid Freezing Pipes During Extreme Cold Temperatures

Tips to avoid frozen water pipes:

• Run a tiny trickle of water from the building’s interior faucet. This will prevent standing water in the pipes from freezing and expanding, causing the pipes to crack. The cost of a trickle of water during this short period of time is minimal compared to the cost of hiring a plumber or contractor to replace a section of your home’s plumbing or water service.
• Keep cupboard doors on cabinets located near outside walls open to allow the heat from the building’s interior to warm the pipes.

Providence Water customers experiencing emergency issues can call our 24/7 emergency line, (401) 521-6300 Opt. 1.

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Health Warnings and Information from RIDOH 

Extreme cold can cause hypothermia, frostbite, and can contribute to events like household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. The best way to protect your health against extreme cold is to prepare yourself, your home, and your car before extremely cold weather. 

Prepare yourself:

• Dress in layers.
• Cover exposed skin. Wind chills this low may result in frostbite on exposed skin in as few as 15 minutes.
• Limit outdoor time.
• Add blankets to your home’s emergency kit.
• Eat frequently. Food gives the body energy to produce heat.
• Do not drink a lot of alcohol or caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine cause your body to lose heat faster.
• Check on older family and friends; infants and older adults are more at risk for health problems related to extreme temperature.
• Your baby should wear the same layers adults would comfortably wear plus one additional layer. Avoid using one big, bulky blanket.  
• Know the signs and symptoms of hypothermia and frostbite.

Prepare your car:

• Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
• Make a winter emergency kit for your car. Add extra blankets and a windshield. 
• Make sure your tires have enough air pressure and that your heater works.
• Check your car’s antifreeze levels. 
• Tell your friends and family if you are traveling somewhere. If you can, bring a mobile phone with you. 

Prepare your pets:

• Limit outdoor time for your pets.
• Bring outdoor pets inside.

Prepare your house:

• Extreme cold can cause your water pipes to freeze and sometimes break. Leave your water tap open so they drip. Open the cabinets beneath the kitchen sink to let warm air near the pipes.
• Be careful with indoor heaters; keep space heaters three feet away from anything that may catch fire.
• Conserve heat. Don’t open doors or windows unless necessary. Close off unneeded rooms. 
• Do not use generators, grills, or camp stoves inside.
• Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning. Put a carbon monoxide detector near your bedroom so you can hear it if you are sleeping.

Watch for warning signs

When exposed to cold temperatures, your body can lose heat quickly and develop frostbite or hypothermia or both. Frostbite most often impacts noses, ears, cheeks, chins, fingers, and toes. Signs of frostbite include discolored (red, white, or greyish-yellow) skin and numbness. If you notice signs of frostbite, get into a warm area as soon as possible and call a healthcare provider. Warm the affected area with warm water or with body heat. Frostbitten areas can be easily burned because they are numb. Do not use hot water, heating pads, or the heat of a stove or radiator for warming. 

Signs of hypothermia include shivering; exhaustion; confusion, memory loss, slurred speech; bright red, cold skin in infants, and very low energy in infants. If you notice signs of hypothermia, take the person’s temperature. If their temperature is below 95°F, this is an emergency, and the person should get medical attention immediately. 

More information:

Some cities and towns have warming centers open to those who need shelter during periods of extreme cold. To find a warming center near you, call 2-1-1 or visit: https://riema.ri.gov/planning-mitigation/resources-businesses/warming-centers. 

For information about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, see this resource from the Rhode Island Office of the State Fire Marshal: https://fire-marshal.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur726/files/documents/safety/alarms.pdf

For more information, see RIDOH’s page on Winter Health Tips https://health.ri.gov/seasonal/winter/ or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) page on Extreme Cold https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/guide.html.

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Keep the Heat On Emergency Heating Assistance

Bishop Tobin’s Keep the Heat On emergency heating assistance hotline will remain monitored through the weekend.  “Keep the Heat On” has provided heating and utility bill assistance to Rhode Islanders in need for close to two decades, offering assistance towards emergency deliveries of home heating oil and heating utility bills for those in Rhode Island who have exhausted other public and private assistance programs and still need help. “Keep the Heat On” has contributed more than $4 million in heating assistance to more than 17,000 Rhode Island households. For heating assistance, call 401-421-7833 (ext. 207).

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Your Best Friends

It is a myth that pets, especially dogs can handle the cold. For certain breeds cold, ice, etc. can be especially dangerous. But, when it gets this cold pets should not sleep outside. Bring them in and make sure when they need to go out you keep them on a leash so they don’t wander. This isn’t the time for a neighborhood jaunt or a visit to the dog park. Here’s a chart from Tuft’s which you may find useful.

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