Massachusetts authorities are urging people to take precautions during dangerously cold weather forecast for late Thursday night and early Friday morning.
Stressing that prolonged exposure to the extreme cold can cause serious health problems, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency urged people to limit time spent outdoors, and to cover exposed skin and dress in warm layers if going out.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said teams of police officers and health care workers will take homeless people to emergency shelters.
" The units will be out there searching certain areas where you might find a homeless person, or two, and we will get them off the streets," said Sarno.
Sarno said the city is prepared to open temporary warming centers in the event a power outage leaves large numbers of residents without heat.
Wind chill values are forecast to drop to -25 degrees.
