Staten Islanders, NYC Residents Brace For Extreme Heat Starting Today – Local Politician Provide Cooling Info: UPDATED Trees Losing Bark
Editor’s note: Earlier this summer, a heat wave has already come to the area, with other emergency measures taken to provide assistance for New Yorkers who don’t have air conditioning or other cooling methods in their homes, such as is common in the Bronx. This Mayor recently signed an Executive Order extending heat protections to workers across industries, including for those who work outdoors. We’ve reached out to the Health Department to get their advisory for residents, which should have more tips on staying safe and helping others. We’ve previously discussed the reasons why heat waves are more dangerous than most people realize, and there are several signs to watch out for with loved ones, particularly those who are elderly, for heatstroke.
Residents may have noticed all of the sidewalk trees all across Staten Island are suddenly losing their bark. This is due to the historic heat wave and is an effort to protect the trees from the sudden, intense heat. Since the sidewalk trees are stuck in a predetermined pit area and have limited access to water, which would help them replenish the moisture they are losing through their leaves as the tree transpires to try to cool itself down. If you are a resident with a tree planted in front of your house, you can save the trees from dying. In a historic heatwave like this, several issues arise that are not usually a problem. The sidewalks around neighborhood trees can become like an oven, transmitting excessive amounts of solar radiation into the soil around the tree roots, compounding the heat and making the actual ground temperature must hotter. As a result, the trees are shedding their bark due to the rapid heat-related contraction due to dehydration of the outer trunk coupled with an expansion of the inner bark which expands rapidly under intense heat. As a consequence, the bark falls off in sheets. Staten Island’s clay-like soils can bake into a brick like texture during heatwaves, further limiting the amount of water trees can draw from the ground.
If the trees in your neighborhood are suffering in this way, intervention may be necessary for them to survive and not die in the next few days of unrelenting heat. You can slow-drip water their pits with a garden hose or a few 5-gallon buckets full of water into the soil over a 15 minute period. The prolonged time prevents it from just running off and not being available for the trees that need it. Do not peel the bark that is already peeling. Leave it alone. If you see large cracks in the main trunk or hanging limbs, report it immediately to NYC 311 or use the NYC Street Tree Map to flag the specific tree for NYC Parks Foresters.
From Rep. Ocasio-Cortez:
An extreme heat watch is in effect across New York City starting Wednesday, July 1st. Temperatures are expected to rise into the 100s and can be dangerous. Locate the nearest cooling center by visiting the NYC Cooling Center Finder or calling 311. To get citywide emergency updates, register for emergency notifications by visiting NYC.gov/notifynyc or texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692.*
From the Mayor:
Mayor Mamdani Activates Unprecedented Heat Emergency Plan as Dangerously High Heat Approaches This Week
Mamdani administration launches never-before-used COOL vans and expanded pop-up cooling stations for outdoor workers
City will activate hundreds of cooling centers across all five boroughs on Wednesday and intensify outreach to vulnerable neighbors
More than 2,200 LinkNYC kiosks will display real-time walking directions to the nearest cooling center within a 10-minute walk
Extreme heat indices will begin Wednesday, peak as high as 109 degrees on Friday and continue into weekend
NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani activated an unprecedented, historic Heat Emergency Plan, launching a coordinated, proactive interagency response across all five boroughs to ready New Yorkers for historically high heat indices that will begin Wednesday, peak around 109 degrees and continue into the holiday weekend.
Under the City’s Heat Emergency Plan, the City is taking expansive action to activate hundreds of cooling centers and cool options, intensify outreach and support to vulnerable New Yorkers such as the homeless and older adults and ready New Yorkers for the heat.
THE ADMINISTRATION IS LAUNCHING NEW INITIATIVES TO MEET THIS MOMENT:
- Cooling Outreach On-Location (COOL) vans, operated by NYC Health + Hospitals, will provide mobile cooling resources directed to our most vulnerable New Yorkers. The vans provide wellness checks, medical care, water and other supplies such as electrolytes and sunscreen, as well as transport to cooling centers or healthcare facilities. COOL vans will also be dispatched to perform in-home wellness checks on older adults. More than a dozen vans will be operational Wednesday.
- The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will operate Health Action Centers and Overdose Prevention Centers as cooling centers.
- DOHMH will expand pop-up cooling stations through partnerships with community-based organizations with cold water, misting fans and cooling towels for outdoor workers including street vendors, deliveristas and day laborers working in the heat.
- More than 2,200 LinkNYC Kiosks will display real-time walking directions to the nearest cooling center — a new initiative created by the Mamdani administration.
- The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will message all of its licensees — about 45,000 businesses across 45 different business categories— encouraging heat illness plans, warning about the dangers of extreme heat and signs of heat exhaustion and reminding employees that they can use Protected Time Off for heat-related emergencies.
Daytime temperatures are forecast to climb into the upper 90s and nearing 100 degrees beginning Wednesday, with heat index values ranging from 100 to 105 degrees. By Thursday, daytime temperatures are expected to be around 100 degrees with heat index values between 103 to 108 degrees. Triple-digit heat index values are expected to persist through Saturday, July 4. If the forecast holds, Thursday would be the first 100-degree day recorded in Central Park since July 18, 2012.
“We’re staring down what could be the second hottest day in New York City history in over a decade — and City government is taking historic measures to keep all New Yorkers indoors, cool and safe,” said Mayor Mamdani. “But we need every New Yorker to take this deadly heat seriously. Stay inside, look out for your neighbors, drink plenty of water and watch out for signs of heat exhaustion such as confusion, nausea and trouble breathing. Last but not least, sign up for Notify NYC by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 so you can stay up to date with the latest weather and information.”
“Heat is a silent killer, which is why New York City is activating our Heat Emergency Plan to protect New Yorkers during what is expected to be one of the most significant heat events our city has experienced in years,” said NYCEM Commissioner Christina Farrell. “The City has been preparing, and beginning Wednesday, hundreds of cooling centers will be open across all five boroughs so everyone has access to a cool, safe place. Our outreach teams are ready, and we urge every New Yorker to take this heat seriously, check on neighbors and loved ones and know where to go if they need relief.”
Heat Emergency Plan
Under the Heat Emergency Plan, the City will activate hundreds of cooling centers beginning Wednesday; expand outreach to residents at highest risk; increase public information efforts such as PSAs, radio interviews and TV interviews; strengthen coordination with healthcare providers, community organizations and utilities; and monitor health impacts in real time. With the high temperatures and humidity leading to chances of thunderstorms throughout the week, the City has also activated the Flash Flood Plan, clearing catch basins citywide, inspecting flood-prone neighborhoods and readying response teams to any changing conditions.
In New York City, most heat-related deaths occur after prolonged exposure to heat indoors without air conditioning. Air conditioning remains the most effective way to stay safe during extreme heat, though many New Yorkers at highest risk may not have access to or use air conditioning.
On Wednesday, the City will activate hundreds of free cooling centers at public hospitals, libraries, older adult centers and other public locations across all five boroughs. In response to the historic, sustained heat and holiday weekend, New York City Public Schools and other City buildings will be opened as cooling centers. The Javits Center and NYCEM Headquarters will be converted to cooling centers from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 3 through July 5. For the first time, DOHMH will operate Health Action Centers and Overdose Prevention Centers as cooling centers.
New Yorkers can find a nearby cooling center, including accessible and pet-friendly locations, by visiting the City’s Cool Options Map or calling 311. More than 2,200 LinkNYC kiosks will display real-time walking directions to the nearest cooling center within a 10-minute walk beginning Wednesday – a new initiative created by the Mamdani Administration. The City also offers outdoor cooling resources, including spray showers and drinking fountains, through Cool It! NYC.
NYC Health + Hospitals will launch Cooling Outreach On-Location (COOL) vans, which consist of 15 van-based vendor teams with a Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner. Teams will deliver critical supplies (water, electrolytes, sunscreen, cooling towels, meals/snacks) and conduct clinical wellness checks for hyperthermia, heat stroke, etc. Vans serve as mobile cooling units and can transport clients to cooling centers or healthcare facilities.
NYC Health + Hospitals will also launch COOL In-Home Wellness Checks, in-home teams that focus on engaging NYC Aging clients. These mobile units will be dispatched to check on older adults in their homes to identify needs for heat relief. These teams will be staffed with trained medical staff, including paramedics and nurse practitioners.
DCWP will message all of its licensees — about 46,000 businesses across 46 different industries — encouraging heat illness plans, warning about the dangers of extreme heat and signs of heat exhaustion and directing businesses to City resources.
DOHMH will expand pop-up cooling stations across all five boroughs, a multiagency project to deploy outdoor relief sites that will operate on days when heat advisories are issued, in partnership with community organizations. Each site will offer misting fans, cold water, cooling towels and health resources. The stations focus on outdoor workers, particularly street vendors, deliveristas and day laborers.
The Department of Homeless Services will operate Code Red outreach from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. during all heat advisory days. This ensures all unsheltered homeless vulnerable clients receive outreach from DHS teams. Outreach teams also distribute water and other essential supplies. Anyone who sees a person experiencing homelessness who may need assistance is encouraged to call 311.
In addition, City Hall will communicate with major hospital systems and health insurers to advise messaging systemwide to their patients on cooling centers and urge them to shift visits to virtual care where appropriate.
Public beaches are free and open daily with lifeguards on duty between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Swimming in restricted areas or when a lifeguard is not on duty is prohibited and very dangerous. The City’s outdoor pools are free and open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. During the heat emergency, Olympic- and intermediate-sized pools will be open for an additional hour to 8 p.m.
Adults 18 and older can obtain a free City-approved spray cap from their local firehouse (with valid ID) to turn fire hydrants into sprinklers.
New Yorkers are urged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during peak heat hours and seek air-conditioned spaces whenever possible. Residents should check on vulnerable neighbors — especially older adults, people with disabilities and people with chronic illnesses — and loved ones, recognize the warning signs of heat illness and help others who may be at greater risk. Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know has hot dry skin, trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, confusion, disorientation, dizziness, nausea or vomiting. Never leave children, adults or pets in cars.
Stay informed by signing up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program, by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 and visiting nyc.gov/beattheheat for more health and safety guidance.
New Yorkers beat the heat on the Coney Island Beach on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR MAMDANI PROVIDES UPDATES ON EXTREME HEAT RESPONSE AND SAFETY LIVE ON WFAN (101.9 FM AND 660 AM)
Shaun Morash: Mayor Mamdani, welcome into WFAN. I’m Shaun Morash. How are you?
Mayor Mamdani kicks off outdoor pool season. Thomas Jefferson Pool, Manhattan. Saturday, June 27, 2026. Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
TRANSCRIPT: MAYOR MAMDANI PROVIDES UPDATES ON EXTREME HEAT RESPONSE AND SAFETY LIVE ON WBLS (107.5 FM)
Fred Buggs: We’re got the mayor on the phone, Mayor Zohran Mamdani. How are you doing?
Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani: I’m doing well Bugsy. I’m staying cool and staying indoors. How are you?
Buggs: I’m doing well. First of all, congratulations. Incredible primary. It’s just amazing that somebody hears what the constituency is looking for and asking for. So, congratulations on that.
Mayor Mamdani: I really, really appreciate that. You know, we’ve been missing for a long time a focus on working people in our politics, and I’m very excited in Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, Darializa Avila Chevalier, [for] what they’re going to bring as the next congresspeople representing those districts.
Buggs: Absolutely, absolutely. Now I know you’ve got a big speech coming up sometime tomorrow. You want to share with us what you’ll be talking about?
Mayor Mamdani: I’ll be celebrating the 250th anniversary of our nation. And how it’s a moment to celebrate everything this country has fought to be and everything that we have to still fight for to ensure not only that we protect that but that we actually live up to the ideals that make so many of us so proud to be Americans. And you know, as some New Yorkers know, I came to this country at the age of seven, grew up in this city. And one of the proudest moments of my life was when I got to call myself not only a New Yorker, but also an American. And in celebrating this anniversary, I think celebrating a fact that all of us as Americans get to write the story of our country. And it’s a privilege and it’s a responsibility.
Buggs: It’s amazing too. And I got to give it to you for the crime stats out. They’ve improved tremendously in this first term. That’s nothing to sleep on either.
Mayor Mamdani: You know, I really think it’s — as you say, we’re talking about the safest first six months of any year in New York City’s recorded history. Citywide, we’re looking at nearly a 6 percent decrease in major crime. And then when it comes to murders and shooting incidents — in shooting victims, we have reached record lows in each of those categories.
And we also know that for New Yorkers, you know, statistics are important. But they are also always an invitation to deliver more. And we never want to rest on our laurels and say the job is done when it comes to public safety. So long as there’s crime, there is a job for us to do. And we’re looking forward to keep doing it.
Buggs: Mayor, you know, there’s something else too at play because I’ve always heard about the statistics but never saw the results. It’s amazing when you hear the statistics and you also can see or feel the results in your neighborhood. I’m from Jamaica, Queens. So, I’m seeing the difference. So, congratulations on that. And congratulations for getting the budget done so us folks out in Jamaica, Queens, with those houses don’t have to pay more.
Mayor Mamdani: Absolutely. But I think it comes back to the belief that, you know, when we’re facing a generational fiscal crisis in the city, we have to resolve it without putting it on the backs of the working- and middle-class New Yorkers. And I’m proud to say that we were able to close a $12 billion deficit. And we were able to do so without having to ask the people who had nothing to do with that crisis for more.
And instead delivering the kind of services that make it easier to live in this city. Whether it’s libraries, whether it’s parks, whether it’s our public pools, which we’ve extended to 8:30 p.m. for the Olympic-size ones during this heat emergency, we want to make it easier for people to call the city home.
[Commercial break.]
Buggs: We do have the 112th mayor still on the phone.
[Crosstalk.]
He’s here with us. Give us some details on what’s happening for the Fourth of July weekend and the sort of preparation that you and your team are doing.
Mayor Mamdani: So, I think, you know, first and foremost, we’re so excited to be celebrating our nation’s 250th anniversary. There’s going to be a number of events that celebrate that, whether it’s Sail250 or it’s the 50th anniversary of the Macy’s [Fourth of July] Fireworks. We also just want everyone to know, though — as they go out to be a part of these events — we are also going to be experiencing some of the hottest weather our city has seen in more than a decade.
We’re looking at a heat index that’s going to stay in the triple digits through the holiday weekend. It’s going to be as high as 112 degrees today and tomorrow. And so, for New Yorkers who are tuning in now, my advice is to stay safe, stay cool and the best way to do that is to stay indoors.
Make sure you’re hydrating. Make sure you’re putting on sunscreen. Make sure that if there’s anyone that you are concerned about when you’re walking out in the streets, if you see them call 311. And if there’s anybody, you know, that’s experiencing the symptoms of heat illness, whether it’s dizziness, nausea, vomiting or confusion, call 911 directly.
Bugsy: What I love is that you’ve got the sprinkler areas now for folks working outside. I used to work outside with Verizon, putting in that fiber-optic and stuff. And on days like today, that little spritz makes a world of difference. So, thank you so much for that.
Mayor Mamdani: You’re welcome, my man. And I think it’s a reflection of the fact that for all the New Yorkers who are just going about their days, there are going to be many that are going to be working outside in this weather.
And we have to make sure that we’re protecting people. And so, in this moment, we’ve also sent out guidance to more than 70,000 businesses about the importance of developing a heat plan for their employees, and a reminder of the laws we have in our city, so that if you’re a delivery worker, you have the right to use the bathroom of any restaurant you’re picking up from.
Bugsy: Mayor Mamdani, thank you so much. Have an incredible weekend this weekend.
Mayor Mamdani: Thank you.
Bugsy: I’m looking forward to meeting you, too. Come through on the Saturday show if you get an opportunity on one of those slow Saturdays, which are probably few and far in between.
Mayor Mamdani: I look forward to it. Thank you for having me. It’s a real pleasure.
Staten Islander News Service Staff Writer
This byline indicates that this article was penned by a member/members of the Staten Islander News Organization office team. Our staff writers are the backbone of our newspaper, performing all sorts of important tasks like conducting interviews, investigating leads, besides writing the news stories you see.
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