TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y. (WENY) -- With temperatures across the Southern Tier hitting the negatives on Monday, Dec. 23rd, Tompkins County put out a reminder that will be Code Blue emergency shelter locations open to the public. And shelter isn't just available in Tompkins County, shelters will be open across the state so long as the cold persists.

New York State requires every county in the state to provide shelter for people during the winter months when the temperature dips below 32 degrees for an extended period of time. For information about hot meals, warming centers and anything else people might need to make it through the cold weather, dial 211. 

In Tompkins County, a Code Blue Emergency Center located at 300 North Tioga Street in Ithaca will be open 24 hours a day from Christmas Day through New Year's day. That represents an extension of normal business hours which run 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.