'It Was Just Shockingly Cold'

Washington Gas said last week that service to about 800 District customers has been stopped because of lack of payment. More than 80 lack electricity, Pepco said.

Debra Daniels, a spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services, said there are vans circling the city most of the day with blankets, clothing and warm drinks.

Residents are urged to call the hypothermia hotline at 1-800-535-7252 about those needing help to get to a city shelter. The city also offers financial help for utility bills for the eligible. Residents can contact the Energy Hotline at 202-673-6750 to make an appointment to apply.

In Montgomery County, spokeswoman Mary Anderson said two Rockville shelters would be open during the day as well as the evening. Progress Place, a day center for the homeless in Silver Spring, also has extended its hours to give overnight shelter.

In other counties, such as Prince George's, Anne Arundel and Howard, officials worked with churches to provide emergency shelter for the homeless during the colder months.

Anne Arundel spokeswoman Rhonda Wardlaw said libraries and malls have agreed to be warming stations. In winter Prince George's offers the Warm Nights Program -- a 12-hour overnight shelter for homeless individuals and families -- from November through March.

Alexandria officials also were extending the hours of the city's emergency winter sheltering program, which operates out of two homeless shelters and several churches.

The Prince William winter shelter in Woodbridge has been at capacity for the past few nights, and staff members were trying yesterday to free up space by relocating single women to the Hilda Barg shelter. "We try to squeeze as many people in as we can on these severely cold nights," said Kay Ackerman, a county social services official.

Staff writers Lori Aratani, Daniel de Vise, Annie Gowen, V. Dion Haynes, Tom Jackman, Nick Miroff, Philip Rucker, Jamie Stockwell, Lena H. Sun, Martin Weil and Yolanda Woodlee contributed to this report.