Chicago remains in the grip of an arctic blast. (Alex Powell / Pexels)

As Chicago remains in the grip of an arctic blast, officials are ramping up efforts to keep people safe.

With dangerous subzero wind chill temperatures forecast for the upcoming weekend, the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) announced Thursday that a pair of warming centers will be open from 9 a.m. Friday through 5 p.m. Monday for those in need of refuge or relief from the extreme cold. The centers are the Garfield Community Service Center, located at 10 S. Kedzie Ave., and the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Service Center, at located 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.

DFSS has also been engaging with homeless individuals, coordinating shelter placements and distributing coats, blankets, gloves, hats and more. Mark Sanders, DFSS deputy commissioner, asked that people refrain from taking propane tanks to encampments, as they pose a hazard.

Officials reminded Chicagoans of the city's heat ordinance, which requires landlords to maintain temperatures of 68 degrees from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m, and 66 degrees between 10:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. Tenants should call 311 if they're experiencing no heat or insufficient heat, and landlords can be fined $1,000 per violation. The city has already conducted 4,500 inspections related to heat issues.

Fire officials strongly warned against using ranges or ovens as home heating sources and also reminded people that if they do need to use a space heater, to keep it three feet away from anything combustible. Eleven Chicagoans have died in fires in 2021, said officials, who urged people to check their smoke detector batteries.

Frozen pipes are another concern during cold spells. Running a trickle of water can prevent the problem, but in the event pipes do freeze, officials said to thaw them out by using a hair dryer or heating pad, not candles. 

Homeless Coat giveaway at the Roosevelt Red Line today.
Thank you Minka -"Never911" and #OEMC #911 Dispatcher for spearheading and coordinating this homeless coat give away with CPD 001st District, and OEMC/TMA Eleazar Cantu and Michael Govan. #Never99 pic.twitter.com/4BHfcGGEz2

— Chicago OEMC (@ChicagoOEMC) February 9, 2021

Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 |  [email protected]