Updates on extreme cold, travel, closures

As the bitter cold settled in Chicagoland Friday, most residents huddled in the safety of their homes or workplaces. But for the homeless, they have no choice but to face the weather.

Feeding People Through Plants Volunteers distributed blankets, hand warmers, hot food and other essentials Friday, as most of the people living in kermo tents decided to stay in their shelters rather than leave for warming centers. They were concerned that they had to leave their belongings behind or many were unable to get transportation to get into shelters, they told the Tribune.

Volunteers found a man shivering, wearing light clothing including a T-shirt and a small blanket. They provided warm clothes and two heaters.

“I was out yesterday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. giving everyone propane. Everyone should be fine. But they’re living in a tent and it’s negative 30 degree wind chill,” said volunteer Morgan McClukey.

At Roosevelt Road and Des Plaines Avenue, strong winds swept a camp along the road. A cat sought shelter in an abandoned cat house.

Conditions were a little milder at another campsite at Clinton and Lake Underpass. One tent with a mattress was covered with burn marks. It caught fire after a candle was lit inside, said Andy Robledo, founder of the nonprofit. A man who lives in the tent is in a wheelchair.

“The dangerous conditions that the city is creating by not housing people, creating a dangerous situation for homeless people on the street because they have to subject themselves to this cold, but they’re taking what they have to do. Stay warm,” Robledo said.

[ As possible blizzardlike conditions barrel toward Chicago, advocates for homeless work to provide shelter, save lives ]

Conditions are not expected to improve soon.

National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Dome said there could be a flurry of flurries on Friday, as well as light snow showers in the evening. Winds between 35 and 45 mph will blow snow on the ground, causing visibility problems, he warned. Afternoon winds could reach 50 mph.

“We’re seeing a lot of pictures, a lot of videos on social media, (of very difficult road conditions, even if it’s not snowing), so we don’t want people to do that,” Doom said. They were fooled by the fact that it wasn’t snowing much today.

Friday morning wind chills ranged from 35 to 40 degrees below zero.

“Even during the hottest part of the day, we’re looking at 25 to 35 below the wind chill and the actual temperature is expected to stay below zero,” Dom said.

Saturday and Sunday will be warm, but obviously not, as wind chills could reach below zero over the holiday weekend.

However, if temperatures reach 50 degrees next week, as expected, temperatures could reach as high as 90 degrees from Friday morning.

[ Will Chicago see a white Christmas this year? Here’s what more than 150 years of weather data predict for Dec. 25. ]

Flight cancellations continued at Chicago airports Friday morning. As of 2:15 p.m., 475 canceled flights had been reported at O’Hare International Airport, and 311 at Midway, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.

Meanwhile, Illinois State Police warned that bridges and ramps were slippery Friday morning, and asked drivers to slow down and leave plenty of space between vehicles.

A multi-car crash on Interstate 294 involving two semis has closed the southbound lanes at milepost 10. But all lanes have been opened recently.

The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation deployed more than 200 snow trucks Friday morning to clear residential streets. Salters have been working since the storm began Thursday morning to make sure the roads are safe for emergency vehicles, public buses and motorists, according to a news release.

Chicago residents can view the city’s snow shovels in real time at chicagoshovels.org.

Extremely cold and slushy road conditions are expected Friday, and officials are urging residents to use caution when traveling.

Chicago Transit Authority buses returned to Dustable Lake Shore Drive by noon, the agency said. He had diverted buses from the car on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

The Blue, Brown and Orange lines were running with delays, after track switching problems caused problems during the morning rush hour. Shuttle buses continue to replace Orange Line service between Pulaski and Midway.

The South Shore commuter line to northern Indiana reported that around 10:30 a.m. all trains were delayed due to the weather. The delay time varies depending on the train.

Health experts have advised people who must go outside to wear a hat, face mask and gloves, as well as three layers covering the upper body and two layers below the waist.

Emily Young, marketing and communications manager for the Lake County Health Department, said in an email that frostbite and hypothermia are serious risks of overexposure to the flu.

Young said numbness, white or gray skin on the face, frostbite around the fingers and toes, as well as waxy skin. Body heat is a good way to warm the affected areas. A heating pad is not recommended. Exposure to extreme cold for 10 to 20 minutes can cause frostbite.

Dr. Ninad Dixit, chief medical officer at Vista Health System in Waukegan, said frostbite and hypothermia can occur quickly if the skin is exposed to extreme cold temperatures, as expected over the next few days.

“If you’re out in the cold, self-care can include warm compresses like ibuprofen and anti-inflammatory medications at recommended doses,” Dixit said in an email. “Do not apply direct heat to the skin. If there is no improvement, seek immediate medical attention.”

Tremors, fatigue, confusion, hand tremors, memory loss, slurred speech, or sleeplessness are all symptoms of hyperemia. For young people, the treatment is different from that given for a cold.

“Go to the hot room,” said the young man. Warm up the core of the body first – chest, neck, head and groin. Keep dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including head and neck.

[ Lake County officials urge residents to take precautions in face of ‘triple-threat storm’ ]

The Chicago Park District will open the field sites as warming centers during regular business hours on Thursday and Friday. Holiday hours start on Saturday and can be found online.

Salvation Army Freedom Center, 825 N. Christiana Ave. and Mayfair Community Center, 5020 N. Pulaski Road, will serve as warming centers Friday and Saturday for residents who need shelter during the storm, the Salvation Army said. News release.

While Cook County courthouses are closed for most legal business, three courthouses are being opened as warming centers. People who are not warm enough can take shelter there from 5 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Monday. Locations available:

• Skokie Court: 5600 Old Garden Road
• Maywood Court: 1500 Maybrook Drive
• Markham Court: 16501 S. Kedzie Ave.

Chicago is operating thermal centers throughout the city. Residents can call 311 for the nearest emergency center.

As the winter chill sets in, it’s time to think about protecting your home from the elements. For savvy homeowners, this includes taking steps to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting during cold weather months.

– Keep interior doors open (this allows the heat to circulate more efficiently in your home).

– If you have ceiling fans, turn the switch to reverse to draw the air down and heat the room.

– Close the garage doors, especially if there are water lines in the garage (which will be colder than other areas of the house).

– Close outdoor vents, such as in attics or attics, to prevent cold outside air from entering your home.

– Disconnect all outside water pipes and let cold water run through pipes in unheated areas or outside walls where pipes work, this will help relieve any pressure building from the ice in the pipes.

[ As the temperature drops, take extra steps to protect your pipes ]

Friday was already a no-attendance day for CPS students.

On Thursday, several Chicago-area schools announced they were preparing for severe weather.

Some of Chicago’s popular holiday traditions will close early due to the expected blizzard-like conditions and bitter cold:

• Adler Planetarium; Closed Friday through Sunday.
• American Blues Theater He finished the race “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!” Today and Friday’s shows have been cancelled.
• Chicago Botanical Garden Closed Friday through Sunday. Lightscape is canceled today and Friday. Ticket holders will be contacted by email with additional information.
• Children’s Museum of Chicago on Navy Beach Closed Friday and Saturday.
• Chicago History Museum: Closed Friday through Sunday.
• Chicago Transit Authority Holiday bus: The final two races at #29 State and #J14 Jeffrey Jump – scheduled for Friday – They have been deleted.
• Christkindlemarket: The Daley Plaza and Aurora locations are closed and will not reopen this season. The Wrigleyville location is closed today through Sunday but will reopen at 11 a.m. on Dec. 26.
• Courts Most of Cook County’s court activities stop on Fridays, with the exception of bail hearings for adults and juvenile detention hearings at the Layton Criminal Courthouse. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office will also be closed. The Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan closed at noon Thursday and was due to remain inactive until 9 a.m. Friday in Bond Court. However, the courts in Skokie, Markham and Maywood remained open as warming centers until Monday morning.
• Field Museum Closed Friday.. Short hours on Saturday. Closed on Sundays.
• Lake front road The park district’s lakefront trail is closed from Oak Street to Ohio Avenue, and the Chicago Avenue underpass entrance will be unavailable until further notice. Other areas affected by high tides may also be cordoned off by the Park District in the coming days.
• Lincoln Park Zoo; closed Friday and Zoolights are canceled until Saturday.
• McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park: Closed Friday and Saturday.
• Maggie Daly Park Ice Skating Ribbon: closed Friday.
• Shedd Aquarium; Closed at 2pm tonight. Closed Friday and Saturday.
• Winterland on Gallagher Road. closed Today until Sunday. It reopens on December 26.