News

Brrrr ... mercury in free fall

Coldest temperatures in nearly five years forecast for area

By Katie Curley
Staff writer
Published: January 14, 2009

Ray Whitley says though it will be downright frigid for the next few days, it has been worse.

Whitley, a local weather watcher for the National Weather Service and a teacher at Triton Regional High School, notes the previous record for Jan. 14 is minus-18, set in 1957.

"We won't see that," he said, "but the coldest air will be here around Friday night and Saturday morning."

When you consider the same air mass is causing temperatures of 30-below in the Midwest, it's very likely the mercury will dip into negative digits sometime in the next few days.

Local social service agencies will do what they can to assist the needy, particularly the homeless, as freezing temperatures creep in today.

"It is supposed to be frigid, and I worry for anyone without good heating or those who are homeless," said Rosmeary Werner of Our Neighbors' Table food pantry in Amesbury.

Werner has already made arrangements for those who come to tonight's dinner to stay warm before the doors open.

"We are going to open the church and have people wait inside before they go to the pantry or go to the meals program," Werner said. "Usually they stand outside, so this will help."

Werner also has more than 20 sleeping bags at the ready should someone need an additional way to keep warm. Amesbury Police also have a stash of sleeping bags at the station if they find someone in need.

"The police are very aware of the people they see that need extra help," Werner said. "They also have my phone number if they are in need of extra ways to take care of people."

Deb Smith, executive director of Pettengill House in Salisbury had eight new families come into the shelter yesterday in need of assistance and shelter from the cold.

With temperatures expected to dip to zero degrees tomorrow night, the coldest it has been in nearly five years, local social service agencies are bundling up and preparing for the worst.

"We have 2,700 clients right now," Smith said, noting the combination of cold weather and the bad economy has created the perfect storm for local service agencies.

Smith will be speaking at the Statehouse tomorrow, urging the Legislature to free up more money for agencies like Pettengill House.

"We have given out over 1,000 coats this winter," she said.

The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures to drop to 7 degrees tonight. Tomorrow, temperatures are expected to reach 14 degrees during the day and zero degrees after sundown, with 2 to 4 inches of snow expected. Friday's temperatures will be similar before temperatures will warm to a toasty 23 degrees on Saturday.

Emergency officials are asking residents to check on the elderly.

"We are telling people to keep an eye on their neighbors, especially those who are elderly or home bound," said James Mannion, deputy public information officer for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. "Obviously if you're going away for a couple of days, keep temperatures at some reasonable height so your pipes don't burst."

Employees of Newburyport Council of Aging will start today calling around to Newburyport's elderly and making sure they are staying warm.

"We will be in contact with those identified as high risk and making sure they are safe, well and warm," director Roseann Robillard said. "Precautions have been provided by MEMA and the Executive Office of Elder Affairs in Boston as reminders of what people should do to make sure they are safe."

Precautions for Extreme Cold Weather

Have sufficient heating fuel, as well as emergency heating equipment in case you loose electricity

Have a winter home emergency supply kit, which includes flashlights, a portable radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water and nonperishable food

Keep your car's gas tank at least half full

Dress in layers of loose-fitting clothing, wear a hat, mittens and study waterproof boots, cover mouth with a scarf to protect lungs

If electricity is lost, make a makeshift freezer by carving one out of a snowbank in your yard

Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a pale appearance in extremities. If symptoms are detected, seek medical help

Hypothermia can occur in extreme cases. Signs are uncontrolled shivering, memory loss or disorientation. Seek medical help. If help is not available, slowly warm the person, core first, by wrapping them in blankets or using your own body heat.

To keep pipes from freezing, wrap them in insulation or layers of newspaper, covering the newspapers with plastic to keep out moisture. Allow a trickle of warm water to run from a faucet that is farthest from the water meter or one that has frozen in the past. Learn how to shut off your water if a pipe bursts.

If you loose heat, seal off unused rooms by stuffing towels in the cracks under the doors. At night, cover windows with extra blankets.

Provided by MEMA