FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     

February 14, 2023

Media Contacts:        

Michelle Covert, Office of Supportive Housing (408)878-5298

Office of Emergency Management, Media Line: (408) 808-7866

Warming Centers are Open in Santa Clara County as Frost and Freeze Warnings are Issued for the Bay Area

Cold temperatures are forecasted overnights through Thursday.

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – The U.S. National Weather Service issued a frost and freeze warning for Santa Clara County for tonight and into Thursday morning. Overnight temperatures are expected to dip into the mid to low 30s. People who are most vulnerable to cold temperatures, such as people who are unsheltered, should take precautions against hypothermia and seek shelter.

The County’s Office of Supportive Housing encourages community members and people who are unsheltered to take precautions against hypothermia and to go to warming centers.

Outreach workers, community partners and volunteers are visiting encampments to distribute blankets, ponchos, tarps and tents while providing information about warming centers to people who are unsheltered. The Here 4 You Hotline at 408-385-2400 will operate with extended hours of 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the inclement weather period.

Unsheltered individuals in San Jose can seek an Overnight Warming Location (OWL) bed by calling the referral line at 408-539-2105 or by emailing [email protected].

People who are unsheltered in the areas of Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin should call Brian Malicdem at 669-286-0585, email at [email protected] or call the South County Compassion Center at 408-763-7120 for a referral to the Community Christian Church Overnight Warming Location.

For a complete list of warming center locations and hours of operation, visit www.PrepareSCC.org/ColdWeather.  

Central Park Library

2635 Homestead Road

Santa Clara, CA 95051

Hours of Operation:

Hours of Operation

Wednesday, Feb. 15 from noon – 6p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16 from noon – 7 p.m.

Community Recreation Center

969 Kiely Blvd

Santa Clara, CA 95051

Hours of Operation

Hours of Operation

Wednesday, Feb. 15 - Thursday., Feb. 16 from 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Cupertino Library

10800 Torre Ave.

Cupertino, CA 95014

Hours of Operation:

Tuesday, Feb. 14 – Thursday, Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Gilroy Library

350 W. 6th St.,

Gilroy, CA 95020

Hours of Operation

Tuesday, Feb. 14 – Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Los Altos Library

13 S. San Antonio Road

Los Altos, CA 94022

Hours of Operation

Tuesday, Feb. 14 – Thursday., Feb. from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Milpitas Library

160 N. Main St.

Milpitas, CA 95035

Hours of Operation

Tuesday, Feb. 14 – Thursday, Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Mission Branch Library

1098 Lexington Street

Santa Clara, CA 95050

Hours of Operation

Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 9a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16 from noon – 5p.m.

Morgan Hill Library

660 W. Main Ave.

Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Hours of Operation

Tuesday, Feb. 14 – Wednesday, Feb. 15 from noon – 9 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16 from 10 am – 6 pm

Northside Branch Library

695 Moreland Way

Santa Clara, CA 95054

Hours of Operation

Wednesday, Feb. 15 from noon – 6 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16 from noon – 7 p.m.

Santa Clara Senior Center

1303 Fremont St.

Santa Clara, CA 95050

Hours of Operations

Wed., Feb. 15 - Thurs., Feb. 16 from 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Saratoga Library

13650 Saratoga Ave.

Saratoga, CA 95070

Hours of Operation

Tuesday, Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 15 – Thursday, Feb. 16 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Woodland Library

1975 Grant Road

Los Altos, CA 94024

Hours of Operation

Tuesday, Feb. 14 – Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 16 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

 

Cold Weather Safety Tips:

• Do not burn charcoal or other flammable materials in an enclosed space to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Drive slowly and be on the lookout for hazardous travel with slick road conditions including possible ponding on roads and freeway off-ramps and minor flooding in low-lying or poor drainage areas.
• Unsheltered community members, older adults, children and those with access and functional needs should seek shelter now as they are at higher risks hypothermia.
• Avoid being outside during the coldest part of the day, or for extended periods of time in extreme cold weather.
• Dress in layers, wear a hat, scarf, gloves and mittens, and waterproof, insulated boots to avoid hypothermia or frostbite.
• Get out of wet clothes as soon as possible to reduce the risk of hypothermia.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water with electrolytes.
• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and non-prescription medication while staying outside as it may lead to death or serious injury.
• Seek medical attention immediately and call 9-1-1 if someone is experiencing hypothermia.

 

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a medical emergency that happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. Normal body temperature is about 98.6 F, and hypothermia occurs when your body temperature drops below 95 F.

People who are 65 and older or very young children are at a higher risk of hypothermia. Alcohol, drug use, and medications can also increase the risk of hypothermia. Left untreated, hypothermia limits the nervous system from working correctly. It can cause a complete failure of your heart, respiratory system, and it can even be fatal.

 

Symptoms of hypothermia include:

• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Exhaustion
• Severe shivering
• Clumsiness and lack of coordination
• Slurred speech or mumbling
• Drowsiness or very low energy
• Weak pulse
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Progressive loss of consciousness

 

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About the Office of Supportive Housing

The County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing’s (OSH) mission is to increase the supply of housing and supportive housing that is affordable and available to extremely low income and/or special needs households. OSH supports the County mission of promoting a healthy, safe, and prosperous community by ending and preventing homelessness. During emergencies and disasters, OSH mobilizes and supports service providers and outreach workers to make extra visits to encampments to distribute water and provide information for services.  OSH works closely with the Office of Emergency Management to ensure coordination of resources and communication while serving vulnerable populations in our community.  For more information about the Office of Supportive Housing, please visit https://osh.sccgov.org/home.

 

ABOUT THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The Office of Emergency Management is responsible for supporting first responders including fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical services in emergencies and disasters. We are also responsible for facilitating the coordination of resources from Local and State partners, community based organizations, and faith based organizations to provide community members with relief and supplies in an emergency or disaster. Our mission is to safeguard lives, property, and the environment through strategic coordination of cross‐functional operations during preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation phases of emergency management. Improving the governmental, economic, and operational efficiency and resiliency of the County of Santa Clara and the entire Operational Area (Op Area). To learn more about the Office of Emergency Management, please visit www.PrepareSCC.org.