When temperatures drop below 32 degrees, Wake County Human Services officials want to make sure anyone who does not have a warm place to sleep knows there are places where they can come in from the cold.

Several shelters in the county implement the “white flag” system whenever the temperature are expected to dip to 32 or lowerbetween 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., or anytime during the day when there’s steady precipitation and cold weather.The white flag system is in effect through March 31or until inclement weather ends.

The white flag sites in Raleigh are at the South Wilmington Street Center, 1420 S. Wilmington St., The Healing Place, 1251 Goode Drive, Raleigh Rescue Mission, 314 E. Hargett St. and the Salvation Army, 215 S. Person St.

White flag events are identified by extreme inclement weather and a white flag is flown at each shelter so anyone who is homeless knows the shelter is open to that person.

More than 3,300 people, including more than 700 children, are homeless during the course of a year in Wake County. On average 1,000 people are homeless each night, and thousands more double-up with other families and are at risk of homelessness.

Adult men who need shelter should first visit the South Wilmington Street Center for referral. Women without children should visit The Healing Place of Wake County for Women. Women with or without children can visit the Salvation Army or the Raleigh Rescue Mission.