As the state of New York prepares for severe winter weather this weekend, Code Blue is again in effect in Monroe County.
New York is under a state of emergency as temperatures are predicted to be dangerously cold throughout the weekend and into Monday. Because of that, County Executive Adam Bello announced on Friday that people in need can seek public shelter from the weather.
Code Blue provides warming centers and expanded transportation options to reach those centers for unhoused individuals. The program kicks in when weather conditions pose a threat of serious harm or death, typically when wind chill temperatures are expected to drop below 32 degrees.
The county says those in need can request free transportation via the Regional Transit Service to a Rochester warming shelter at any bus stop. If the nearest shelter is already on the bus route, officials say the bus will transport them directly there. If a participating warming center is not on the bus route, the county says the bus will transport them to the RTS transit center, where an RTS employee will take them to the appropriate bus route that will take them to a shelter with available space.
These warming centers will be available while Code Blue remains in effect:
Open Door Mission, 156 N Plymouth Ave., Rochester, RTS Routes: 15, 21
House of Mercy, 285 Ormond St., Rochester, RTS Route 3
Saving Grace Ministries (men only), 1140 Norton St., Rochester, RTS Route 4, 5
Oak Orchard, First Baptist Church, 124 Main St., Brockport, transportation available through RTS OnDemand
More information on Code Blue services can be found here.