It’s dangerously hot in the Chicagoland area. The blistering heat of summer continues to bake the city without an end in sight.
With
temperatures expected to stick in the mid-90s for the remainder of the week,
city officials are encouraging residents to seek relief in their homes, public
buildings or designated cooling shelters as heat Indices climb above 100
degrees.
Anne
Sheahan, spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Family and Support Services,
expected the number of people seeking refuge at the centers to climb in step
with the temperatures.
The city
was also offering rides to cooling centers. Chicago authorities stepped up
their high-heat precautions after a 1995 heat wave killed more than 700 people
in less than a week. Now temperatures above 90 degrees trigger an emergency
plan that includes city workers calling and visiting the frail and elderly.
Since Monday, the city had received 77 shelter requests.
DFSS
plans to help provide transportation to cooling centers and respond to resident
well-being
check requests.
“Chicago
residents have heeded the message to prepare for hot weather,” said Gary
Schenkel, executive director of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and
Communications. “Let us keep up the good work by remaining vigilant and
preparing for hot weather through this weekend, especially if participating in
or attending outdoor activities.”
Chicago
residents needing assistance with heat-related issues are encouraged to call
the city’s 311 information line.
Since
this past weekend, OEMC has held daily conference calls and shared information
with city departments and private sector partners and special event organizers
with outdoor events this week so they can be prepared.
The
OEMC’s Emergency Operations Center has not been activated at this point, but it
will open immediately if a heat warning is declared, or if other conditions
warrant, according to city officials.
If the
EOC is activated, the OEMC becomes the primary coordinating agency between City
departments and private sector partners to ensure resources are effectively and
efficiently deployed to minimize the impact of extreme heat on Chicago
residents.
Chicago
Public Schools took steps Monday to alert schools to this week’s heat wave and
is preparing facilities to ensure students are comfortable, well hydrated and
receive the nutrition they need.
CPS has
been calling and visiting schools today to see what resources they may need to
ensure students have comfortable school environments throughout this week,
officials said.
Some
children are in summer school, but in some communities the schools are serving
as feeding centers for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s summer feeding
program.
More than
1,500 fans have been distributed to schools to prepare for the rising
temperatures so far. While many schools have total or partial air conditioning,
officials have made additional fans available to those schools that need them,
according to CPS.
The
Chicago Department of Public Health is urging residents to take extra
precautions to avoid heat-related illness, such as heat exhaustion or heat
stroke. People are advised to stay out of heat as much as possible, drink
plenty of water and refrain from extended strenuous activity outside.
Residents
can also contact their local Chicago Park District facility to find out about
the availability of activities to beat the heat, including sprinkler parks,
indoor activities and of course the beaches on the City’s North and South
Sides.
One
location, the 41st Street Beach House, can accommodate hundreds of people
looking to cool off in Lake Michigan, city representatives said.
That
announcement came after the city received 803 calls regarding open hydrants the
last two days, most of which are resolved.
The
Chicago Fire Department says opening fire hydrants places the entire
neighborhood at risk because doing so drops water pressure in the area and
prevents firefighters from being able to use them to fight a fire.
Com Ed
has told city officials they will have additional crews on stand by to quickly
respond to heat-related power outages. The utility company is regrouping after
a quick storm uprooted trees and downed power lines earlier this month.
According
to the National Weather Service, heat indices of 105 up to110 degrees are
possible for the rest of the week. The high temperatures coupled with high
humidity produces the heat index.
Copyright
2011 Chicago Defender
