Code Red and Code Blue
Code Red and Code Blue responses to extreme weather aim to reduce the harmful effects on people rough sleeping by:
- connecting them with support services
- providing extra services including extended operating hours for services, increased shelter options, more food services, sunscreen etc.
We coordinate Code Red and Code Blue extreme weather responses across South Australia in partnership with other service providers.
When a code is activated
When a Code Red or Code Blue response is activated, homelessness services will visit known rough sleeper locations to make people aware of the supports available to them. Information about services and support will be available on our Facebook and Instagram.
What activates a Code Red or Code Blue
Triggers for Code Red
- Severe heatwave where the Excess Heat Factor is 1 to 3
- Extreme heatwave where the Excess Heat Factor is above 3.
Excess Heat Factor is calculated using a formula that looks at the minimum, maximum and average temperatures over 3 days. The State Emergency Service and Bureau of Meteorology work together to calculate the Excess Heat Factor number.
Triggers for Code Blue
- Extreme weather conditions predicted to continue for at least 3 days by the Bureau of Meteorology with any 2 of the following:
- temperatures dropping below an average night-time low of 6°C
- significant rainfall causing difficulty for people rough sleeping to remain dry
- damaging wind gusts pose a high risk for the safety of people rough sleeping.
- Prolonged cold conditions where the Bureau of Meteorology predicts 5 or more days with average night-time temperatures dropping below 5°C.
- Any other factors related to extreme winter weather.