An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect from 4:00 AM today, Monday, January 20, 2025 through 7:00 AM on Thursday, January 23, 2025 as temperatures are forecasted to plummet to up to 30 degrees below normal, with wind chills potentially reaching a dangerous -35°F. These extreme conditions pose significant risks, including frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes and the potential for frozen or ruptured water pipes.
With the Extreme Cold Warning in effect, Garrett County Department of Emergency Management encourages all residents and visitors to sign up for the local Garrett County citizen notifications & emergency alerts system: https://bit.ly/3ApMAbk.
For those who already have an account, now is the perfect time to log in and confirm or update alert preferences to ensure timely notifications are received. Also, residents are encouraged to provide up to five addresses when signing up, as certain alerts can be filtered by specific locations.
Please take the following precautionary actions to ensure safety and well-being during this time:
- Dress in Layers: Wear a hat, gloves, face mask, and multiple layers of clothing when venturing outdoors.
- Protect Pipes: Insulate or allow water pipes to drip slowly to prevent freezing.
- Limit Exposure: Stay indoors as much as possible and avoid prolonged exposure to the cold.
For those experiencing power outages or unable to heat their homes, emergency warming stations and shelters are available at the following locations:
- Kitzmiller Volunteer Fire Department
- Deer Park Community Volunteer Fire Department
- Southern Garrett Rescue Company 9
- Accident Volunteer Fire Department
- Bittinger Volunteer Fire Department
- Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department
- Friendsville Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Inc.
- Bloomington Fire Company
If you require sheltering assistance, please contact the Garrett County Emergency Operations Center at 301-334-7280.
For additional information, please email the Garrett County Department of Emergency Management at [email protected].
