PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. – The Calvert County Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, will open the Harriet E. Brown Community Center, located at 901 Dares Beach Road in Prince Frederick, as a warming center for residents who need a warm, dry place to take refuge. The shelter will open today, Jan. 4, 2022, at 3:30 p.m.

Residents should bring any needed medications, snacks and a sleeping bag. Drinking water is available at each warming center. No showers or meals will be provided.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, residents must wear face coverings and must practice physical distancing while inside the building. Each person entering the warming center will be evaluated for COVID-19. Individuals with positive results will be placed in a separate warming area.

Residents have no other means of transportation to a warming center should call the Calvert County Emergency Communications Center non-emergency line at 410-535-3491, to request transportation assistance. For medical emergencies, citizens should call 911.

• Watch for frostbite: symptoms include loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, and the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately.

• Watch for hypothermia: symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms are detected, get the victim to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first and give warm, non-alcoholic beverages if the victim is conscious. Get medical help immediately.

Emergency warming centers open when the need arises. During extreme cold weather events, the primary concern is the potential loss of heat, power, telephone service and a shortage of supplies if storm or weather conditions continue for more than one day.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed and prepared in the event of an emergency by visiting www.CalvertCountyMd.gov/BeAwarePrepare and signing up for Calvert County ALERT to receive timely information about various emergency and non-emergency situations in the county.

Charles County:

Charles County Government is opening a warming center from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, Jan. 4 at the Port Tobacco Recreation Center (8190 Port Tobacco Road, Port Tobacco). Any residents in need of power may report to the warming center.

Residents can bring their charging cords to charge devices and other essentials. Food will not be provided. Please enter the building through the south entrance of the gymnasium. Residents must bring a mask and wear it inside of the building.

Residents are advised to tune in to local radio and television news stations for emergency alerts and actions. Updated information is also available online at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov, www.facebook.com/CharlesCounty, and www.twitter.com/CharlesCoMD.  Weather updates are also aired on CCGTV, which broadcasts on Comcast channel 95 and Verizon channel 10. Sign up for the Citizen Notification System at www.CharlesCountyMD.gov/CNS to receive inclement weather and traffic alerts by text message, email, or phone. For information on power outages, view the SMECO outage map at stormcenter.smeco.coop. Call 877-747-6326 to report a power outage.  Call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.