Cold temperatures are forecast for New York City, and officials are dispatching emergency teams to keep homeless people from freezing in the streets.
Robert Hess, the commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services, said Tuesday that extreme cold led to four deaths last year. He says the city wants to make sure that doesn't happen again. Temperatures are expected to be around 25 Tuesday night.
About three dozen teams of two people each will respond to reports of homeless people — either outdoors or in the subway system.
The city has 8,000 beds reserved for the homeless — in shelters, apartments and other buildings including the YMCA.
The Code Blue Cold Weather Emergency Procedure is called when the temperature drops to 32 degrees.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
