Frigid temperatures spark concern for at risk populations
Wind chills in Wheeling are projected to hit 25 degrees below zero this week. Concern is growing for the city’s homeless population, elderly, and other at risk groups.
WHEELING — The Pittsburgh office of the National Weather Service issued an extreme cold watch for its entire region–including the city of Wheeling–as a blast of arctic air threatens to push apparent temperatures below zero. Wind chills are projected to reach minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit in the area.
The watch is in effect from the evening of Sunday, Jan. 19 through the morning of Thursday, Jan. 23. Rain on Saturday and snow on Sunday could cause hazardous driving conditions throughout the region.
During this cold snap, the National Weather Service warns frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Exposed water and sewer pipes could freeze and/or burst. People are asked to stay indoors as much as possible, wear several layers of clothing and cover exposed skin when outside, drip or empty their water pipes, and wrap external pipes where possible. Generators should never be used in an enclosed space and space heaters should be monitored at all times.
Some groups are at a higher risk of adverse effects from the cold weather, including the elderly, infants, those without adequate heating systems, and the homeless.
Non-profit organization Street MOMs is particularly concerned about the homeless population they serve. Susan Brossman, one of the organization’s founders, says frostbite is the biggest threat. The group is collecting hand warmers, foot warmers, boots, thermal layers, and other items to assist people in staving off the cold.
Frigid temperatures arrive in the region a week after at least two people experiencing homelessness were found dead in the state.
On Saturday, Jan. 11, in the city of Charleston, a man was found frozen underneath a bridge. The man had been staying at a warming shelter in the city’s West Side neighborhood, but the organization closed on the night of his death. An agreement between the shelter and the city stated temperatures must be at or below 20 degrees to open. The low temperature Saturday was 24 degrees.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Danielle Johnson, a homeless woman from the state of Missouri, was found dead in a wooded area in the city of Parkersburg. A man who shared a tent with Johnson says he awoke around 1:00 a.m. to find her outside laying in the snow. The man helped Johnson back to the tent. First responders were dispatched to the site around 11:00 a.m. after the man found Johnson unresponsive.
Several warming shelters are expected to open in Wheeling in response to the cold.
The Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling, 1610 Eoff Street, will open on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 9:00 a.m. and again from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center, 125 18th Street, will open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The House of Hagar, 114 14th Street, will open Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Life Hub Winter Freeze Shelter will operate its shelter from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday. The Life Hub’s usual hours are from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Derek Lantz with Catholic Charities Neighborhood Center said organizations have been communicating to ensure a warming space is available throughout the week. “We are all coordination together to make sure our neighbors are safe,” Lantz said.
While warming options exist, some people experiencing homelessness have expressed issues with accessing these services.
Terry, a homeless woman living at the city of Wheeling’s exempted camp, says she and others often choose to brave the cold. “A lot of us have pets and animals, so we can’t take them,” Terry said. Other residents of the camp expressed their concern over having their property stolen or destroyed if they leave.
The distance between the exempted camp and warming shelters is a concern, too. Located roughly 1.5 miles away, the walk to or from services in East Wheeling takes roughly 30 minutes or about the time the National Weather Service warns frostbite can occur on exposed skin.
The National Weather Service has asked people to check on their neighbors, friends, and family during the cold snap to ensure they are safe.Arctic temperatures are projected to leave the area by Thursday.