Community Corner

'Code Blue' at Safe Harbor as Temperatures Drop

Easton shelter hopes to get people off the streets during icy weather.

Easton's snow emergency ended Friday evening, but Safe Habor, the city's homeless shelter, was dealing with a different kind of emergencies.

Shelter staff had turned the Bushkill Street building's living room into a makeshift sleeping area, in hopes of getting people off the streets as icy temperatures approach.

They call it "code blue," said Jeff Poch, who runs Safe Harbor's daytime program. He was headed out into the city Friday afternoon to let people know the shelter had warm beds and hot meals.

"A lot of people don't want to ask," Poch said. 

Nighttime temperatures were expected to drop to zero by dawn Saturday.

The National Weather Service said Saturday will be sunny with a high near 24 in the Lehigh Valley, but the wind chill will make if feel more like -1 degrees. Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 27 degrees in Bucks and Montgomery counties.

According to Accuweather, this weekend will bring the coldest air to hit the northeast in the last five years.

Snow is likely again Sunday before 2 p.m., following by rain after 3 p.m. Sunday will be partly sunny, with a high near 36 degrees, the National Weather Service said.

Tuesday will bring icy temperatures again, with a daytime high of seven degrees.


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