The Government of Puebla has activated 65 free Safe Bedrooms for vulnerable people and those experiencing homelessness due to the drop in temperatures caused by the current cold front season. In some regions of the state, temperatures have dropped as low as five degrees below zero. Jonathan Ali Vargas Sánchez, an operational meteorologist from the General Coordination of Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Management, explained that although winter has not officially begun, the effects of the cold are already being felt with intensity. He noted that the cold front season runs from September to May, with 48 systems forecast; so far, 22 have been observed, six of which have directly impacted Puebla. Vargas Sánchez specified that the lowest temperatures are not concentrated in urban areas. In inhabited areas, temperatures have dropped by up to three degrees, while in mountainous regions, the cold has been more severe. On the mountain peaks, we have registered temperatures as low as minus five degrees, which is already an extreme temperature. He detailed that the Safe Bedroom program is implemented in the municipalities of the Northern Sierra, Northeastern Sierra, Atlixco Valley, and the Serdán region, where historically the greatest cold-related impacts occur. These are temporary shelters equipped with mattresses, blankets, and personal hygiene kits, focused on people who have some type of vulnerability or are in a situation of street life. He added that Civil Protection personnel conduct night patrols in low-temperature areas to locate at-risk people and invite them to these spaces. He pointed out that there is coordination with the municipal DIF systems for the distribution of hot meals, mainly during the nights with the greatest thermal drop. Vargas Sánchez warned that cold fronts not only cause low temperatures but also other risks. These systems cause a drop in temperature, strong north winds, and rain; the exact moment of their passage is usually associated with intense precipitation. He recalled that during cold front number 21, heavy rains were registered in mountainous areas, leading to the suspension of school activities, not because of the cold, but due to the risk conditions derived from the precipitation. Regarding recommendations to the population, he called for dressing appropriately, maintaining a balanced diet, and paying special attention to the use of heaters and fireplaces. These appliances generate carbon monoxide and can cause serious poisoning or even death if there is not adequate ventilation, he warned. Finally, he urged the population to stay informed only through official sources. We issue weather bulletins and alerts daily; following official channels helps to avoid misinformation and make better decisions, he concluded.
