Santa Clara County has launched a alert system specifically aimed at the vulnerable unsheltered homeless population, which would let those with a mobile device know when the weather is taking a potentially dangerous turn.

“Normally when we send out mass alerts, we tailor it to a neighborhood or region or wherever it is going to impact people,” said Patty Eaton of the county’s Office of Emergency Services. “This new function specifically alerts homeless individuals about shelter availability during excessive heat or cold or rain.”

The latest addition to Alert Santa Clara County, the new free service — activated by texting HOMELESS to 888-777 — automatically sends a text alert and instructions to a mobile device when it is activated. The county has had a similar system available to offer residents emergency warnings in the event of a fire, flood, criminal activity or other significant event that could require action or evacuation.

Stephanie Demos of HomeFirst, which partners with the county to visit encampments to tell people about threatening conditions and offer them food, water and services, said many homeless people do have inexpensive cell phones who could be reached with the service.

“This is one of those things that there will be people who see it for the lifeline that it is and use it,” she said, “and others — the more chronic homeless who may have substance abuse issues — who may not. But it’s a tremendously humane effort to reach out to anyone we can.”

Eaton said that while the system has been in the works for some time, they pushed forward with the rollout of the homeless-specific model in the wake of a recent heat wave that saw one homeless person die in their vehicle on June 19.

The messages will include addresses of warming or cooling centers, as well as emergency shelters.

“Everything helps,” said Pastor Scott Wagers of CHAM Deliverance Ministry, who has been critical of notification efforts in past weather events. “I’ll never forget a couple of episodes in recent years — that cold snap where four people died, and the February flood. Homeless people were literally swimming out.”

Wagers, who regularly visits camps bearing food, water and other supplies, said that while the notifications may be heeded by some who sign up for the service, ultimately a greater in-person warning effort is needed.

“We have to go out to where they are and tell them, ‘this is coming,’” he said. “An emergency warning system is good, but implementation is another thing.”

During the June heat wave, homeless people at a creekside camp in north San Jose said they knew there were cooling centers available but weren’t interested in going for various reasons: A lack of transportation, a desire to bring along an animal companion, resistance to leave unguarded possessions behind.

SAUGERTIES–An “shelter in place” alert was issued late Tuesday afternoon via Nixle after a CSX train was determined to be leaking hydrochloric acid at the rail crossing on Malden Turnpike, according to authorities.

The alert advised people in the vicinity to stay indoors and close windows while officials worked to resolve the problem.

Exposure to the highly corrosive liquid can cause lung irritation, shortness of breath, choking, coughing and abdominal pain, according to medlineplus.gov.

If the acid comes into contact with the skin, eyes or internal organs, damage can be irreversible or even fatal.

“We sent out the community alert to shelter in place and put windows down, just for their own safety,” said Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra. “At the time, our concern was whatever did get released. Working with emergency officials, the best
course of action at the time was to shelter in place.”

Sinagra said 1,096 people immediately received the alert and spread it further through social media.

No evacuations took place.

There were no immediate reports of people suffering symptoms, the chief said.

Police were notified at 5:33 p.m.–45 minutes after it happened–and began working with the Ulster County Emergency Management Office and county fire coordinator’s office to determine how much of the acid had been released.

“Although there was a release, they don’t think it was large,” the chief said.

The cause of the leak was a blown gasket connected to a valve with a vapor space, allowing the release of the fluid, Sinagra said..

It was first noticed by a northbound CSX train passing the southbound train. CSX officials were then notified that it was discharging the substance and the train was stopped at the Malden crossing.

Hazmat teams from Kingston and CSX responded, along with various fire departments and Saugerties and CSX police. A “temporary fix” was made, the chief said.

The train then headed to the CSX yard in Kingston, where the company Hepaco Emergency Response Team will make the repair on the car.

The train, which had 100 cars, was heading south, though Sinagra did not know its final destination.

After the alert was issued, the chief said police got several calls from the public asking about symptoms to hydrochloric acid exposure.