DC Public Schools Closed on Tuesday, January 27, DC Government to Open at 10 am

(Washington, DC) - Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced DC Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 27. Families with students enrolled at a public charter school should expect to hear directly from their school and can also check here to see if their school has changes to their operating posture.

DC Government will open at 10 am. Supervisors are encouraged to allow liberal leave for employees due to weather conditions.

DC Public Library (DCPL) will open the following locations from 10 am to 5 pm: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Mt. Pleasant Library, Tenley-Friendship Library, Anacostia Library, Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Library, Woodridge Library, Dorothy I. Height/Benning, and Southwest library.

Residents and customers are encouraged to check other District agency websites for any adjustments to facility or programming schedules.

As the Snow Team continues clearing roads, the snow emergency has been extended through Wednesday, January 28 at 9:30 am. While the snow emergency is in effect, motorists may not park on snow emergency routes and vehicles parked on these routes may be towed. Find a map of the snow emergency routes at snow.dc.gov. To learn where a vehicle has been towed, call the Towed Vehicle Locator office at 202-541-6083, or go to dpw.dc.gov/page/booting-and-impoundment.

An Extreme Cold Alert remains in effect, and the District is entering a period of extended extreme cold. The District opens Hypothermia Shelters to ensure there are warm, safe places to be for anyone experiencing homelessness. For a list of shelters and other information about hypothermia season, visit cold.dc.gov.

Residents are also encouraged to stay vigilant and help neighbors experiencing homelessness in need of shelter by calling the Shelter Hotline. To request free, accessible transportation for yourself or someone else, call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or by dialing 311. If you believe there is an immediate medical emergency, call 911.

Cold Weather Safety Precautions:

• Stay inside if you can.
• Cover up and limit exposed skin when you go outside.
• Check on your neighbors and learn the signs of hypothermia, especially in young children, the elderly, and those with access and functional needs who are the most vulnerable in our community.
• For all animal emergencies, including animals left outside in extreme temperatures, call the Brandywine Valley SPCA at 202-888-PETS.

What's Open

Low-Barrier Shelters
The following low-barrier shelters are open 24/7 year-round (except where noted):

Women

• Harriet Tubman - 1910 Massachusetts Avenue SE
• Pat Handy - 810 5th Street NW
• St. Josephine Bakhita - 6010 Georgia Avenue NW (7 pm to 7 am only)

Men

• 801 East - 2722 Martin L. King Jr. Avenue SE
• Adams Place - 2210 Adams Place NE
• Emery - 1725 Lincoln Road NE
• New York Avenue - 1355 New York Avenue NE

LGBTQ+

• Living Life Alternative - 400 50th Street SE

Hypothermia Shelters
The following hypothermia shelters are currently open around the clock through Friday, January 30 at 7 am:

Women

• Eve's Place - 2210 Adams Place NE
• Harbor Light - 2100 New York Avenue NE

Men

• 801 East Day Center - 2722 Martin L. King Jr. Avenue SE
• Blair Hypothermia - 635 I Street NE
• Emery Hypothermia - 1725 Lincoln Road NE
• Federal City 1 North - 425 2nd Street NW
• Naylor Road - 2601 Naylor Road SE
• Salvation Army - 3335 Sherman Avenue NW

Please note: Adjustments to hours and facilities may occur if circumstances dictate (e.g., utility issues, weather-related access, etc.)

The Sanctuary, a low-barrier shelter for transition age youth (age 18-24), located 511 Mellon Street NE, will be open around the clock on Tuesday, January 27.

The Downtown Day Services Center (The Center), located at 1313 New York Avenue NW, provides walk-in services to individuals experiencing homelessness with no appointment required. The Center will be open on Tuesday, January 27 from 9 am to 5 pm. Entry will be permitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests will be provided with a wristband that must be worn while in the Center.

Zoe's Doors Youth Drop-In Center for residents experiencing homelessness, located at 900 Rhode Island Avenue NE, offers a safe place for youth 24 hours a day and will be open on Tuesday, January 27.

Snow Clearing
The snow team is engaging in a full deployment. Heavy plows (six- and 10-wheel dump trucks) treat highways, streets, bridges, ramps, and other elevated structures, and light plows (pick-up trucks) treat smaller streets.

The Department of General Services (DGS) will continue clearing DC government properties in preparation of upcoming openings, including walkways, driveways and entryways at schools, police stations, fire houses, DHS shelters, senior wellness centers, and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) sites..

Residential Snow Clearing
Residential property owners who are not enrolled in the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program are required to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks also within the first eight hours of daylight following the end of a snow event.

DC Volunteer Snow Team Heros
The DC Volunteer Snow Team began deploying in neighborhoods across DC to shovel the walkways of senior residents and those with access and functional needs.

Businesses
Commercial property owners are required to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks within the first eight hours of daylight following the end of a snow event. DPW recommends that restaurant owners bring in all furniture and other elements within the outdoor dining areas, except for the barriers. Failure to do so may result in damage to the furniture or other materials.

Critical Infrastructure
Reporting power outages or downed wires:
Fallen overhead power lines should never be approached or touched even if the lines do not appear to be live or sparking. Call Pepco at 1-877-PEPCO-62 (1-877-737-2662) to report fallen electrical lines and power outages.

Treat all downed power lines as if they're live. Do not touch, drive over, or try to move downed power lines.

Residents should take steps to prevent pipes from freezing/bursting:

• Drip water through your faucets to prevent pipes from freezing.
• Open under-sink cabinets to help pipes stay warm.
• Report loss of water service, widespread low water pressure, or water in the street to DC Water at 202-612-3400.

Residents are encouraged to sign up for free email and text alerts and updates through AlertDC, the District's emergency public notification system, at alert.dc.gov.

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