GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Mel Trotter Ministries in Grand Rapids put its Code Blue emergency plan into place Friday night, starting at 6 o'clock tonight.
It is due to the dangerously cold temperatures forecasted. Whenever the "feels like" temperature outside goes below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the Code Blue operations take effect.
Mel Trotter said its emergency declaration will remain in place until at least Monday. Its CEO, Chris Palusky told WOOD Radio News that members of Mel Trotter's outreach team will increase patrols throughout the city this weekend.
"On days like this, we send out vehicles looking for people who are unsheltered or maybe don't know the weather's going to get really cold, that are sleeping outside," Palusky said.
Mel Trotter said it was opening its overflow capacity space in its main shelter at 225 Commerce Avenue in downtown Grand Rapids. That is just south of Cherry Street. They also have opened the overflow space at their Day Center.
"We offer them an option to come into the shelter and be warm," Palusky said. "Because, otherwise, they could freeze.
"Now, many people will choose - also - to sleep outside. And we've got blankets and hand warmers, and hats and gloves for those people to make it through the night."
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