The City of Chicago has released the following:
Updated August 22 to add update from City of Chicago, statement from Mayor Johnson, and information from the Salvation Army
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23 FROM 11 AM–9 PM
The Excessive Heat Watch is still in effect from Wednesday, August 23 through Thursday, August 24 with a possible heat index of 110˚-115˚
The City of Chicago will open additional Cooling Centers–27 total citywide–in addition to Park District facilities and Chicago Public Library Locations
An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Chicago for Wednesday, August 23 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. This is in addition to the Excessive Heat Watch beginning Wednesday morning, August 23 through 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 24 due to an expected period of dangerous heat and humidity with possible heat index values of 110˚-115° degrees for at least two consecutive days.
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will continue to monitor conditions with the National Weather Service in Chicago and will issue alerts for additional advisories, watches, and warnings.
EXCESSIVE HEAT
Excessive heat or extreme conditions can lead to unhealthy impacts – especially over a duration of time. Public safety is the top priority of the City of Chicago and residents are also reminded that hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. OEMC and city departments are reminding residents and visitors of the resources available to help alleviate the effects so everyone can stay healthy and safe.
City of Chicago Cooling Centers
27 Locations Citywide + Park District Facilities and Chicago Public Library locations.
The City of Chicago’s cooling areas located at the City’s six community service centers are activated from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. NOTE: Hours will be expanded on Wednesday, August 23 and Thursday, August 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Englewood Center – 1140 W. 79th Street
- Garfield Center – 10 S. Kedzie Ave. (24 Hours)
- King Center – 4314 S. Cottage Grove
- North Area Center – 845 W. Wilson Ave.
- South Chicago Center – 8650 S. Commercial Ave.
- Trina Davila Center – 4312 W. North Ave.
Additional locations activated from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23 and Thursday, August 24:
Regional Service Centers
- Southeast – 1767 E. 79th Street
- Southwest – 6117 S. Kedzie Avenue
- Central West – 2102 W. Ogden Avenue
- Northeast – 2019 W. Lawrence Avenue
- Northwest – 3160 N. Milwaukee Avenue
- Renaissance Court – 78 E. Washington Street (10 a.m.- 5 p.m.)
Satellite Senior Centers
- Pilsen – 2121 South Morgan
- West Town – 1615 West Chicago Ave.
- North Center – 4040 North Oakley
- Norwood Park – 5801 North Natoma
- Portage Park – 4100 North Long
- Abbott Park – 49 East 95th St.
- Chatham Park – 8300 South Cottage Grove
- Roseland – 10426 South Michigan
- Garfield Ridge – 5674-B South Archer
- Kelvyn Park – 2715 North Cicero
- Auburn Gresham – 1040 West 79th St.
- Englewood – 653-657 West 63rd St.
- Austin – 5071 West Congress Parkway
- Edgewater – 5917 North Broadway
- South Chicago – 9233 South Burley
For additional details on the Senior Centers, visit the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services at Chicago.gov/DFSS/Senior Centers
During hours of operation, residents can also find relief in one of the City’s Chicago Public Library locations and Chicago Park District fieldhouses as well as splash pads located throughout the city. For a map of locations, visit Cooling Centers – Map | City of Chicago | Data Portal. NOTE: The Legler Library at 115 S. Pulaski and Austin-Irving Library at 6100 Irving Park Road will be closed all week.
Tips to Beat the Heat
- Stay hydrated – drink lots of water, AVOID alcohol, caffeine, sodas.
- Stay inside, if you do not have air conditioning, keep shades drawn and blinds closed, but windows slightly open.
- Keep electric lights off or turned down.
- Minimize use of your oven and stove.
- Apply sunscreen and wear loose, light, cotton clothing and hats with visors if you must spend time outside.
- Take cool baths and showers.
- Do not leave anyone (including pets) in a parked car, even for a few minutes.
To receive the latest updates on heat advisories and weather emergencies residents can register for the City’s emergency alert notifications at NotifyChicago.org, check OEMC’s social media pages, tune to local media or download the Chicago OEMC App.
When the temperatures climb to extreme levels, Chicagoans should monitor themselves and others for the telltale signs of heat-related illness. Extreme sweating, intense thirst, nausea, fatigue or weakness, and dizziness or confusion can all be indicators of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. It’s also important to check on relatives, neighbors, seniors, and our vulnerable population. If you are unable to make contact, you can request a wellbeing check by downloading the CHI311 app, visiting 311.chicago.gov, or calling 3-1-1. If there is a medical emergency due to a heat related illness, call 9-1-1.
The Chicago Department of Buildings(DOB) advises property owners and building managers to check their electrical and cooling equipment to make sure it is in working order. On days when the heat index exceeds 80°F certain residential buildings must provide air conditioning in all apartments or have an air-conditioned indoor common gathering area known as a cooling center. For additional information on the 2022 Cooling Ordinance visit Chicago.gov/cooling.
Chicago OEMC App
For safety and preparedness at your fingertips, residents and visitors are encouraged to download the new Chicago OEMC App. The public safety tool provides safety information, preparedness tips, emergency alerts, weather information and more in the palm of your hand. Users will also have access to current forecasts, radar, and other weather-related information as well. The app is now available through the Apple App and Google Play stores or download by visiting the OEMC website Chicago.gov/OEMC.
Smart911
Create a Smart911 profile now to include vital information to share with first responders if needed. A new feature has been added to include if you have air conditioning in your home or apartment for heat emergencies. This is useful information for first responders if they are responding to vulnerable residents, particularly seniors. The edit your profile or sign-up, visit Smart911.com.
Sign up for NotifyChicago alerts at NotifyChicago.org. OEMC also issues TEXT alerts for lakefront notices, issues affecting businesses or events:
- CHILAKE: For lakefront notices, TEXT “CHILAKE” to 7-8-0-1-5
- CHIBIZ: For alerts affecting businesses, TEXT “CHIBIZ” to 6-7-2-8-3
For additional information on emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook (@coemc), Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC) and Instagram (chicago_oemc_911).
STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ON THIS WEEK’S EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH AND SAFETY CONDITIONS IN CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
“My administration is mobilizing the full force of government in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Teachers Union and the Service Employees International Union Local 73 to better coordinate resources during an Excessive Heat Watch that has been issued for tomorrow, August 23 through Thursday, August 24.
Extreme heat poses a significant challenge to our public school system during this crucial first week of classes, so the Mayor’s Office is coordinating directly with the Office of Emergency Management and Communications – which has activated its Emergency Operations Center – and in collaboration with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Park District, the Department of Family and Support Services, Chicago Public Libraries, and Chicago Transit Authority to make sure that we have contingency plans in place in case of an emergency situation like extreme weather, and to protect our students from potentially dangerous heat.
It is important to keep in mind that excessive heat impacts certain people and populations differently, and special attention should be paid to more vulnerable members of society. Social isolation is one of the biggest risk factors in heat-related deaths, especially amongst the most vulnerable populations: seniors over age 65, young children, pregnant women, and individuals without air conditioning.
CPS manages well over 800 facilities and campuses and has spent a lot of time adjusting resources and personnel to ensure that all facilities and campuses are operating at high standards suitable for these conditions. The district is working closely with its facilities team and tracking the cooling status for all buildings on an ongoing basis.
In the spirit of collaboration, Safety Committees are being reconvened at schools across the district in a joint effort between CPS, CTU, and SEIU Local 73. Safety Committees will assist with monitoring any concerns related to the heat advisory and make recommendations for resolution. As the heat index could reach as high as 110 degrees, we are moving swiftly to make all preparations necessary to ensure that Chicago’s schools are safe.
We have also coordinated with our partners in philanthropy and in the private sector to get bottled water donations to CPS students, crossing guards, and Safe Passage workers. United Way of Metro Chicago and World Business Chicago helped secure more than 12,000 bottled water donations from PepsiCo, Fresh Market Place, Keurig/Dr. Pepper and Jewel-Osco.
During hours of operation, Chicago residents can find relief in one of the City’s Chicago Public Library locations and Chicago Park District fieldhouses as well as splash pads located throughout the city.
We are also expanding operating hours at six of our cooling areas and activating six more sites. Fifteen satellite Senior Centers are also being activated across the city.”
City of Chicago Cooling Centers
The City of Chicago’s cooling areas located at the City’s six community service centers are activated from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. NOTE: Hours will be expanded on Wednesday, August 23 and Thursday, August 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Englewood Center – 1140 W. 79th Street
- Garfield Center – 10 S. Kedzie Ave. (24 Hours)
- King Center – 4314 S. Cottage Grove
- North Area Center – 845 W. Wilson Ave.
- South Chicago Center – 8650 S. Commercial Ave.
- Trina Davila Center – 4312 W. North Ave.
Additional locations activated from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23 and Thursday, August 24:
Regional Service Centers
- Southeast – 1767 E. 79th Street
- Southwest – 6117 S. Kedzie Avenue
- Central West – 2102 W. Ogden Avenue
- Northeast – 2019 W. Lawrence Avenue
- Northwest – 3160 N. Milwaukee Avenue
- Renaissance Court – 78 E. Washington Street (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Satellite Senior Centers
- Pilsen – 2121 South Morgan
- West Town – 1615 West Chicago Ave.
- North Center – 4040 North Oakley
- Norwood Park – 5801 North Natoma
- Portage Park – 4100 North Long
- Abbott Park – 49 East 95th St.
- Chatham Park – 8300 South Cottage Grove
- Roseland – 10426 South Michigan
- Garfield Ridge – 5674-B South Archer
- Kelvyn Park – 2715 North Cicero
- Auburn Gresham – 1040 West 79th St.
- Englewood – 653-657 West 63rd St.
- Austin – 5071 West Congress Parkway
- Edgewater – 5917 North Broadway
- South Chicago – 9233 South Burley
For additional details on the Senior Centers, visit the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services at Chicago.gov/DFSS/Senior Centers.
SALVATION ARMY COOLING CENTERS OPEN DURING EXCESSIVE HEAT ADVISORY
Chicago Salvation Army Corps Centers open for residents to escape the heat Wednesday and Thursday
WHAT:
The Salvation Army Corps Community Centers to operate as cooling centers as high temperatures are set to reach the upper 90s with heat index readings likely exceeding 115 degrees.
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning from 11 am to 9 pm Wednesday. An excessive heat watch is scheduled to be in effect for much of the area Thursday.
For the excessive heat warning, dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of 110 to 115 degrees are expected with locally higher temperatures possible. For the excessive heat watch, dangerously hot conditions with heat index values of 105 to 110 degrees are possible.
As the heat builds, residents should be aware of the symptoms of heat-related illnesses, stay hydrated, and remain in cool, air-conditioned spaces. The Salvation Army is here to help.
To find your local Salvation Army Community Center, go to SalArmyChicago.org, and type your zip code in the box in the upper right corner.
WHEN:
Wednesday, August 23 and Thursday, August 24
WHERE:
The Salvation Army Corps Community Centers across the Chicago area.
WHY:
To provide residents a cool, safe place to gather during the heat advisory.
