READING, Pa – After a brief break from winter-like weather, colder temperatures are moving back into Berks County, and officials say it’s time to be ready again.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation crews in Reading said they’re already preparing for slick roads as temperatures were expected to drop overnight, Wednesday into Thursday.
“We’re just going to keep an eye on things for freezing roads,” said Rick Stone, county manager for Berks County PennDOT.
Stone said PennDOT crews were already preparing.
“We’ll have everything manned by 4 a.m. unless it moves in a little sooner,” Stone said Wednesday. “Then we’ll get them out earlier. But right now, we’ll have everything manned before rush hour tomorrow morning.”
The bigger message: Don’t let a warm day trick you into thinking winter is over.
“It hasn’t been too bad of a winter so far for us. Enough to keep us a little busy, but we’ve been able to get some maintenance stuff done and keep an eye on things,” Stone said. “But it’s not over yet.”
Officials say it’s also a concern for people without warm places to stay. Local shelters, like Opportunity House and Hope Rescue Mission, open additional space so people can get out of the cold.
Animal control officers were also preparing for the drop in temperatures.
Rachel Minchoff, a humane police officer with the Department of Animal Protection, said a Code Blue will be issued in the city of Reading starting Thursday.
“We will be issuing a Code Blue in the city of Reading from the 15th to the 18th,” Minchoff said.
A Code Blue means conditions are cold enough to be dangerous, especially for pets left outdoors.
“During this time, animals feel just like we do, especially our pets that are used to living indoors, like our cats and dogs,” Minchoff said. “At this time, I would be really careful of having your dog outside for more than 15 to 30 minutes for potty breaks or quick walks.”