“While some people may see this and say 32 degrees is not extreme cold. For us in the Bay Area, it can be dangerous, especially for people experiencing homelessness,” Behringer said. “Infrastructure and people are not built for this here.”
Meteorologists are advising commuters to allow extra time on Friday morning to scrape frost off windshields and are urging residents to protect the “four Ps”: plants, pipes, people and pets. Behringer noted the hills may remain slightly warmer than valley floors because of a warm air mass aloft, but the risk of frost remains high.
The life-threatening drop in temperature has prompted Santa Clara County’s Office of Emergency Management to activate its cold weather response.
Charles Harris, with the county’s emergency office, said officials are working closely with public health and supportive housing departments to reach those most at risk. While the county cannot mandate that individuals move indoors, outreach teams are working to distribute survival gear to unhoused encampments through the evening.
“We give out emergency blankets, we give out water, tents, tarps, blankets,” Harris said. “As a county, we can’t force people into housing, but we can meet them where they are.”
The county is operating eight warming centers, Harris said. In San José, the city has activated additional locations, including community rooms and libraries. The sites serve as temporary shelters during the cold weather, providing access to warm food and restrooms overnight before returning to normal public use during the day.
Beatriz Ramos, chief programs officer for HomeFirst, said teams are targeting specific geographic areas, including southern and western portions of San José. HomeFirst operates overnight warming locations at sites such as the Roosevelt Community Center and the Evergreen Library. While the sites are typically referral-based, Ramos said entry requirements are relaxed during inclement weather activations.
