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Philly-Area Counties Extend 'Code Blue' Weather Alerts

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia, Montgomery and Camden counties have extended their "Code Blue" emergency declarations because of the continuing sub-freezing conditions in the region.

Marcella Maguire, Philadelphia's director of behavioral health and homeless services, says the cold weather just isn't letting up (see previous story), and the city urgently wants to get the homeless off the streets and into a warm place.

"It's deeply concerning to us that anybody's out there," she told KYW Newsradio on Wednesday afternoon.

"We know folks tend to be vulnerable. We know the homeless population is aging and the average age right now is about 48. We also know a lot of the folks out there have serious medical problems and we're concerned that we'll lose people," she added.

Maguire says she is asking for the public's help. If you see a homeless person in need of assistance, call the city's Outreach Hotline at 215-232-1984.

So far, Morrisville (Bucks County), Pa. is the only community to record a death related to the cold. A 56-year-old woman was found dead on Sunday outside a deli.

Reported by Mark Abrams, KYW Newsradio 1060.

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