Heat Wave Continues This Week: Please Check On Loved Ones, Learn About Cooling Centers, Other Options To Beat The Heat

Heat Indexes expected to be as high as 101 degrees Fahrenheit.  

From the Staten Islander’s previous article on the heat wave earlier this month:

Extreme heat kills. 350 New Yorkers died prematurely last year from preventable heat illness. If you’re elderly or have other health conditions like heart disease or asthma, you’re at even higher risk, among other factors.

Extreme heat is a serious threat in New York City, and New Yorkers need to be extra careful during hot summer months. Extreme heat means high heat and humidity with temperatures that are much higher than normal (10 degrees or more) lasting for several days.

It is important to understand your risk to extreme heat and make a heat emergency plan that works for you and your family.

Please also remember your neighbors, particularly those who are elderly, and check on them frequently in the next couple of days.  Also, fire hydrant spray heads are available at your local firehouses, which can also be very helpful for vulnerable New Yorkers without air conditioning.  Please also remember your pets when thinking of heat and hydration.  They are also affected.

Here is BP Fossella’s infographic on available cooling centers on the island.  The Salvation Army’s Broad Street location is not on the map, but they are a cooling center as well

Stapleton Corps Community Center 
15 Broad St, Staten Island, NY 10304
6/18, 6/20, 6/21 from 8am – 4:30pm

A brief portion of the announcement by Mayor Adams: 

“Clearly the summer is here, everyone enjoyed the beautiful outdoors; it was a lovely weekend to be outdoors this weekend, but in the midst of another heatwave this week, we want folks to take extra precaution. 

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory that is in effect through tomorrow at 10 a.m., is that a.m. or p.m., let me be clear, a.m., okay, I just want to be clear. High heat and humidity are also being forecast over the next few days. We expect to see heat indexes as high as 101 degrees through tomorrow and potentially into Wednesday. I just want New Yorkers to know, do not underestimate the heat. We have seen extreme heat impacts the western United States the past two weeks, and more than 19 cities in the west, including Las Vegas, have broken temperature records, and at least 28 people have died. 

This heat is not normal, we’ve said it over and over again, climate change is here and is real, and it is a clear and present danger. As I said before, a heatwave can be deadly and life-threatening if you are not prepared. Our city is prepared, the entire apparatus is coordinating together, including the MTA and Con Edison, and here over at OEM. We have more than 500 cooling centers in our network, and that includes our libraries, as we’re joined with our library team, who’s really letting people know it’s a welcome place as we deal with the heat. 

They were open yesterday and will be open at least today and Tuesday for New Yorkers to keep cool. I just want to remind New Yorkers that there are specifically pet-friendly cooling centers in every borough, that’s why we have Sushi here, Vegan Sushi, [the dog’s] name is Sushi. Our beaches will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily, and we extended hours at our Olympic and intermediate pools, they will be open from 11 a.m. through 8 p.m. And mini pools will be open 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. And I’m really excited about how the team, Commissioner Donoghue and her team, they have already surpassed last year’s total number of lifeguards, and we’re still bringing new lifeguards on through the end of July. 

New Yorkers can find additional ways to stay cool online at our cool options map at finder.nyc.gov/coolingcenters, or by calling 311. I made clear weeks ago, having a working air conditioner in your home is one of the most effective ways to guard against heat emergencies, and for low-income New Yorkers, they can apply to receive an air conditioner at no charge through the Federal Home Energy Assistance Program while funding lasts. 

We are in constant communication with our utility partners, including Con Edison, and PSEG Long Island, and we will be monitoring the electrical system, please try to minimize use to avoid any blackouts. The system can be stressed, and when temperatures rise, we urge New Yorkers to be mindful of their energy consumption. 

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We’ll walk the walk, too, with more than 600 city buildings reducing energy consumption to ease pressure on our grid, the equivalent of powering down 12 Empire State buildings. Please make sure to check on your neighbors, it’s important, those who are dealing with respiratory issues or dealing with health issues, just really check in on them. 

For everyone, don’t forget to drink plenty of water so you can stay hydrated, and if you must go outside, take a break, and the same for our four-legged friends, make sure that they’re taking a break as well. New Yorkers, I encourage you to sign up for Notify NYC, the city’s free emergency notification system, which will keep everyone updated about weather and air quality issues. 

Notify NYC is available in 14 languages, including American Sign Language, and the administration has made public safety the center of everything we do, and that includes preparing for weather emergencies and protecting our fellow New Yorkers, and we want to remind all of you to do the same. New Yorkers, look out for each other, and make sure we stay cool during the summer. Thank you very much.”

Banner Image: Sun. Image Credit – AstroGraphix_Visuals