As would be no surprise to anyone who has been outside today, Environment Canada has issued an extreme cold warning for Thunder Bay to Attawapiskat to North Bay — and basically all of the rest of Ontario, too.
Bitterly cold wind chills near minus -40 are expected overnight and into Friday morning here in the Sudbury area. Clearly, exposed skin can suffer frostbite within minutes with these temperatures.
The temperatures will rise Friday morning.
Keep emergency supplies in your vehicle such as extra blankets and jumper cables, Environment Canada advises. If it's too cold for you to stay outside, it's too cold for your pet to stay outside.
Outdoor workers should take regularly scheduled breaks to warm up.
Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frost bite and hypothermia.
Earlier today, the Homelessness Network of Sudbury also announced an Extreme Cold Weather Alert for the next 24 hours.
The Extreme Cold Weather Alert program is an initiative funded by the City of Greater Sudbury to protect those who are most vulnerable to intensely cold weather conditions.
This alert puts into action a short-term emergency plan to increase community services when the temperature is predicted to be below -15 C, below -20 C with a wind chill, or when Environment Canada issues a storm watch or weather warning.
People on the street are encouraged to access shelters and services. Individuals who may be at risk due to low temperatures in their homes are also eligible for these services.
Under a community partnership agreement, agencies implement or extend the following community services:
Hot Line:
705-675-6422 — L’Association des jeunes de la rue will operate an overnight phone line to direct callers to appropriate services and to take calls from concerned citizens.
Emergency Warming Centre:
The Samaritan Centre will become an emergency warming center and extend their regular hours of operation by remaining open overnight, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. during an Extreme Cold Weather Alert. They will provide a warm seating area and hot beverages.
Shelters:
Emergency shelter programs for homeless persons are available 24 hours through:
Salvation Army (Cedar Place) for women and children — 261 Cedar St.
L’Association des jeunes de la rue (Foyer Notre Dame) for youth 16 and 17 yrs of age — 307 Cedar St.
The CMHA- Off the Street (OTS) Emergency Shelter Program for all gender adults aged 18 and older runs 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. every night — 200 Larch St.
Outreach:
L’Association des jeunes de la rue (Community Outreach Program) will provide overnight services to make contact with people on the street and to transport individuals to shelters. Outreach workers will be equipped with extra clothing, blankets and coffee for those who choose not to access shelters.
