Cook County Warming Centers Open as Temperatures Drop

Municipalities around Cook County have opened warming centers for area residents to safely cope with the region’s first taste of winter weather:

The list of warming centers can also be found on the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website: http://cookcountyhomelandsecurity.org/cook-county-warming-centers.

Residents should follow these tips during cold weather to keep themselves and their families safe:

• Never use your oven for heat.
• Never bring charcoal or gas grills indoors (they are a carbon monoxide hazard).
• Make sure all portable heaters are unplugged when not in use.
• Use electric space heaters with extreme caution – avoid placing them near curtains or other flammable materials and turn them off before going to bed.
• Keep heat at adequate levels or leave faucets open with a slight drip to prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep moving. Your body generates its own heat when you engage in physical activities.

For more tips, visit the DHSEM website: www.cookcountyhomelandsecurity.org.

The Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management integrates first responders, their departments and resources from 134 Cook County municipalities, and serves as the central agency in Cook County for coordinating efforts to prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of, respond to, and recover from all incidents, whether human-caused or natural. For more information, visit our website at www.cookcountyhomelandsecurity.org and follow us on Twitter @CCDHSEM.