Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

Wilkes-Barre — Mayor George C. Brown announced the City of Wilkes-Barre will enact the Code Blue designation, due to severe cold temperatures, for the evening of Saturday, March 23.

The Code Blue Emergency Shelter Program is administered by Keystone Mission at the Keystone Mission Innovation Center, 90 E. Union St., Wilkes-Barre. During Code Blue, the shelter will be open to guests’ arrival between 8 and 9 p.m. and will close at 7 a.m. the following morning.

The city will assist with the administration of the program by making the determination of when a Code Blue is necessary, publicizing when it will be in effect, and having city personnel attempt to notify the homeless of the activation of a Code Blue.

A Code Blue will be initiated when the National Weather Service forecasts windchill temperatures of 20 degrees or below, or when there is an expected snowfall of 10 inches or more. The public will also be notified of a Code Blue situation by the lighting of a blue light on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

People interested in volunteering to assist with the Code Blue Program or seeking more information about the program should contact Keystone Mission at 570-871-4795, ext. 404, or by sending an email to Volunteer@KeystoneMission.org.