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Warming Relief for Winter Weather

Anne Arundel County will make several County facilities available for warming relief during the upcoming winter season, in response to predicted prolonged cold temperatures. Community members who need temporary relief from the cold weather can stop in and utilize the designated facilities during their normal business hours. Anyone who needs sheltering, special accommodations, or has public inquiries can contact the Crisis Warmline at 410-768-5522.

 

The following facilities will be available for warming relief during the specified days and times. Please visit https://www.aacounty.org/warm for more information.

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● Anne Arundel County Police Department District Station Lobbies and/or Community Rooms will be available 24/7.

● Anne Arundel County Senior Activity Center Community Rooms will be available during normal business hours from 8:30 am       to 4 pm Monday through Friday.

● Anne Arundel County Public Libraries will be available during normal business hours from 10 am to 9 pm Monday through Thursday and from 10 am to 5 pm Friday through Saturday.

 

All facilities are accessible and have heat, water, and restroom facilities. Medical care is unavailable, and anyone experiencing or observing a medical emergency should call 9-1-1. Pets are not allowed in any of these County facilities. Accommodations will be made for service animals. An adult must accompany children at all times.

 

The Office of Emergency Management encourages residents to exercise caution during extremely cold temperatures. Whether inside or outside, cold weather can be dangerous to those who are not prepared to properly handle it.

 

During this time period, all County residents and visitors are encouraged to do the following:

● Dress in layers to stay warmer for longer. This also gives you more flexibility to remove layers while still staying warm.

● Prepare for the unexpected. Most hypothermia cases occur due to an unexpected change in the weather or temperature, so            keep extra gloves, hats, and a coat in your car.

● Wear a warm hat when going outside. Up to 50 percent of body heat is lost through the head.

● Avoid getting wet when the temperatures drop.

● Wear waterproof boots or shoes to keep your feet dry.

● Drink plenty of water and avoid nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol which can cause dehydration.

 

In accordance with § 12-4-809 Severe Weather Emergencies and Alerts, the County Executive will issue a Severe Weather Animal Alert when temperatures reach 32 degrees meaning that any dog left unattended outside must have the items listed below:

● A dog house, with no interior metal surfaces, that protects the animal against wind, snow, and cold that is raised at least 2              inches off the ground;

● Dry bedding or resting board inside the dog house; and

● Fresh, clean, and drinkable non-frozen water at all times in a non-tip bowl.

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For more information please visit Anne Arundel County Animal Care and Control’s website at 

https://www.aacounty.org/departments/animal-control/severe-weather/.

 

All materials are available in an alternative format upon request. TTY users, please call via Maryland Relay 7-1-1.

Snow Preparedness and Removal Tips and Resources

As the winter months continue, the Anne Arundel County Bureau of Highways has created a resource on their site explaining how they clear snow on our roads and some tips on public safety during severe weather.

 

Here are some recommendations from the bureau in the event we navigate severe weather - 

  • Prepare your vehicle: Adding snow tires or chains to your car and stocking it with a survival kit is helpful when driving in a storm. Some items to include are blankets, candles, matches, non-perishable foods, water, protective clothing, sand and a shovel.

  • Keep your gas tank full.

  • Keep and maintain home emergency equipment: Some items to keep on hand are battery operated radios, flashlights, emergency heating sources, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. It is also important to check and maintain furnaces, wood burning stoves, fireplaces and chimneys. Fireplace ashes should always be thrown away in an approved metal container.

  • Keep non-perishable foods, medicine and baby supplies on-hand.

  • Protect water pipes: To prevent freezing, it is important to make sure water pipes are properly insulated and that exposed pipes are drained.

  • Wear protective clothing: layers of loose-fitting warm clothing is more effective than one thick layer.

  • Pace physical activity: It is important, especially for elderly persons, to avoid overexertion in snow removal or pushing cars. 


For more information about the Bureau’s snow removal practices, visit their website at https://www.aacounty.org/departments/public-works/highways/snow-information/.

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