Deep freeze tips

For the past three or four days the weather has turned cold. I often like to say that the weather we're experiencing now has turned December into January.

I wrote a status/tweet about whether or not I should do a cold weather post on city warming centers. Last winter I wrote some posts about warming centers especially ones located on our part of the south side. Late last year it was reported that an elderly man died due to cold exposure. Let's hope that we can avoid that during this winter!

First off I want to refer you to Uptown Update. I know it's all the way on that north side, but they offer some tips for the cold weather on Thursday, especially these three we should pay attention to:

In this brutal weather, please keep an eye out for anyone sleeping outside and call 311. Shelter beds were still available last night! City services will come out and try to talk the person into sleeping inside, and at the very least will try to talk them into a warming van for a bit. Don't forget about the warming centers
...
Another new development with the parking ticket machines: they freeze up in extreme weather. Call the number on them if you can't get them to work to avoid getting a ticket.

If you're shoveling, lots of layers are better than one heavy layer, don't drink before you go out there, and wear a hat. We now return the blog to the bloggers, and away from your mother.

Here are two posts to look at for city warming centers on this blog:

• Warming Centers
• Let's Watch Each Other's Back

Here's the city's page on weather relief. You can call 311 to locate a warming/cooling center near you.

According to the link provided by Uptown Update the two nearest shelters to us are located at:

• Englewood Center
  845 W. 69th St.
  Chicago, IL 60621
  312-747-0200
  
• South Chicago Center
  8759 S. Commercial Ave.
  Chicago, IL 60617
  312-747-0331 
  

By all means take advantage call 311 or even the numbers at those two locations. Stay warm out there!

BTW, we have an Accuweather widget at the very bottom of this blog. You should be able to see current temperature, radar, or even a forecast. It's perfect to check the weather if you have a few minutes to surf the web online before you go anywhere.

Although, it would be real nice indeed if someone in the community had a website like Pete's Weather and the equipment that goes with it to provide weather updates for our community!