A pair of hikers and their dogs walk through a snow-covered North Cheyenne Cañon Park on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023. Pikes Peak region officials are preparing for a polar vortex that will settle into the area over the weekend, beginning Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. Officials have offered residents tips for how to stay safe and warm during extreme cold temperatures. Pikes Peak region officials are preparing for the polar vortex expected to bring brutally cold temperatures and subzero wind chill values throughout the weekend ahead. Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director Meredith Nichols told reporters Friday morning, in a joint news conference with Colorado Springs Utilities and the Colorado Springs police and fire departments, the agencies are prepared and ready to respond to emergencies and provide assistance during the anticipated cold snap. Weather 4 tips in Colorado Springs for preparing your home for extreme cold weather Breeanna Jent breeanna.jent@gazette.com Nichols encouraged community members to also prepare for extreme cold weather and reach out to neighbors and others who may need help staying safe and warm. "We cannot emphasize enough that the whole community needs to take some part in preparing for and being ready to handle emergencies when they arise. Please do not underestimate the risk associated with extreme cold weather," she said. "It's expected to last an extended period of time and it's potentially life-threatening if you do not take it seriously." Weather Gov. Polis issues disaster declaration for upcoming cold snap Sage Kelley Nichols said people should ensure they have emergency vehicle kits prepared. The kits should include warm clothing, blankets, handwarmers and other cold weather supplies and gear. People should take care not to travel in icy conditions. Bring animals inside and make sure to keep livestock out of wind and snow, she said. People should also avoid being outside as much as possible throughout the weekend and early next week. Children and older adults are at greater risk of extreme cold. If you do need to go outside, dress in loose layers and protect exposed skin to avoid possible frostbite, Nichols said. The Colorado Springs Fire Department's Homeless Outreach Program is leading the city's support of homeless individuals and families during the extreme cold. The department, along with the Colorado Springs Police Department's Homeless Outreach Team and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, coordinate to provide available resources and manage transportation to help the local homeless population, officials said in a joint news release Friday. Steve Johnson, the Fire Department's community and public health administrator, said for the first time the department has an emergency action plan in place to assist the homeless population during extreme cold weather events. The department worked with the regional Office of Emergency Management and other community partners to develop the plan. In recent days, due to cold weather, officials have set up shelters and coordinated transportation to help get homeless individuals and families to those shelters, he said. "We're more prepared than we've ever been to help our homeless community in Colorado Springs," he said. Multiple warming shelters will be in place for homeless people ahead of the weekend's cold wave. The news release said The Springs Rescue Mission and The Sanctuary Church are the Pikes Peak region's two main warming shelters, offering meals and other resources for homeless people. Johnson's team is also working with Hope COS, which too is opening warming shelters, and the community is already utilizing the resources, he said. On Thursday night, Johnson's team helped shelter about 600 homeless people from bitter nighttime temperatures. Local partners have stepped up to help transport homeless individuals to shelters as needed, allowing firefighters and police to get people to safety quickly, and then freeing up first responders to continue patrolling the community to address other emergencies, Johnson said. Sign Up for Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. He estimated the Hope COS shelters can shelter about 250 to 300 people, and said the Springs Rescue Mission can hold around 500. He encouraged people to first seek shelter at Springs Rescue Mission since it has a higher capacity. Call 719-401-3111 for people needing transportation to warming shelters.Call 911 if you see any resident experiencing what you think is an emergency medical situation.Call 911 if you see smoke or signs of a fire. Residents should also check on friends and neighbors who may be vulnerable, and should know the symptoms and treatment for frostbite and hypothermia, officials said. Hypothermia is not the same as frostbite, according to the UCHealth website, though people can develop both conditions at the same time. Hypothermia occurs after a person is exposed to cold, wet and windy conditions. It makes body temperature drop below 95 degrees and, if untreated, can lead to heart attack and death, the website states. Frostbite only impacts areas of the skin directly exposed to cold weather. Symptoms of frostbite include redness or pain in the affected area, a yellowish or purplish tint to the skin, skin that feels abnormally firm or waxy, numbness, blisters, or even blackness in the skin in severe cases. Those who believe they are affected by frostbite should avoid additional exposure to the cold and should not rub the affected area, as it can cause skin damage. UCHealth officials recommend rewarming the affected area by utilizing warm water -- not hot -- and running it over the skin for 15 to 30 minutes, and to keep the wound elevated to reduce chances of swelling. "If the skin appears blue, bluish-gray or blisters form when the skin warms, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to prevent further tissue damage," UCHealth spokeswoman Cary Vogrin said in a Friday news release. Lastly, officials do not recommend walking on frostbitten feet. News Colorado Springs weather: Cold and blustery conditions Friday, subzero wind chill values expected Abbey Soukup abbey.soukup@gazette.com Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion, slurred speech, drowsiness and confusion. If you observe symptoms of hypothermia, seek medical attention immediately because it can be deadly, UCHealth officials said. Residents in need of food, emergency sheltering, utilities assistance, clothing or other services can contact Pike Peaks United Way 211. Dial 211 or 719-955-0742, or call toll free at 1-866-488-9742. The organization is multilingual, free and confidential. Trained information specialists staff the hotline from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Staff will monitor messages over the weekend and during non-business hours and will respond within a few hours, according to a news release. People can also text their ZIP code to 898211. Standard message and data rates may apply. Residents who need transportation services to a warming shelter can also contact 211. They should provide 211 staff their precise location. Find the database of services online at ppunitedway.org.