Extreme Heat Warning Extended

OEMC Heat Safety Graphics and Information for Sharing

WHAT: An Extreme Heat Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Chicago for Cook County.

WHEN: The Warning will be in effect beginning Monday, June 29 at 12:00 p.m. and extended until Friday, July 3 at 12:00 a.m.

IMPACT: Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high events. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Well-Being Checks

The magnitude of anticipated heat, combined with oppressive warmth at night will lead to hazardous conditions, particularly for the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions. It's important to check on relatives, neighbors, seniors and our vulnerable populations. If you are unable to make contact, you can request a well-being 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.

Tips to Beat the Heat - Heat Safety Tips from Marvel's Ironheart

• 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 turn them down.
• Minimize use of your oven and stove.
• Wear loose, light, cotton clothing.
• Take cool baths and showers.
• Do not leave anyone (including pets) in a parked car, even for a few minutes.

OEMC has activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and will work closely with City of Chicago departments, sister agencies and the National Weather Service (NWS) in Chicago to monitor conditions. Should conditions deteriorate with the expected heat and humidity, OEMC will continue to coordinate the City's response by working with city departments to further assist residents and vulnerable populations.

Chicago OEMC App: For alerts, weather conditions, safety and preparedness tips, cooling center locations, and more residents are encouraged to download the Chicago OEMC App. Users will also have access to current forecasts, radar, and other weather-related information. The app is available through the Apple App and Google Play stores or visit the website Chicago.gov/OEMC.

Available Cooling Centers - Monday, June 29 through Thursday, July 2

DFSS Community Service Centers

The Department of Family and Support Services' (DFSS) six community service centers activate cooling areas during periods of extreme heat at 90˚F and above.

The cooling areas operate from Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

• Auburn Gresham Center - 1140 W. 79th Street
• Garfield Center - 10 S. Kedzie Ave. (open until 8pm all week through Friday, July 3)
• 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.

DFSS Senior Centers

Seniors are welcome at any of DFSS's senior centers (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. except Renaissance Court, which is open 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). DFSS partners with OEMC to use robocalls to inform seniors of key information regarding how to stay safe during extreme weather. Visit Chicago.gov/Seniors for senior center locations.

Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library, City Colleges of Chicago, and Chicago Police District Locations

During hours of operation, residents can also find relief in one of the City's Chicago Public Library locations, City Colleges of Chicago main campus locations, Chicago Park District fieldhouses, as well as pools and splash pads located throughout the city, as well as lakefront beaches. For more information on Park District cooling resources, please visit: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/cooling-centers

The Chicago Police Department's 22district stations are available 24 hours for relief from the heat and to be connected with shelter. Note: Chicago Public Library and Chicago Park District locations are open on the weekend during hours of operation.

Available Cooling Centers - Friday, July 3

DFSS Community Service Centers

The Department of Family and Support Services' (DFSS) six community service centers activate cooling areas during periods of extreme heat at 90˚F and above.

The cooling area will operate through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.:

• Garfield Center - 10 S. Kedzie Ave. (Friday, July 3 is a City Holiday)

Note: If the extreme heat persists into the weekend, Garfield Center will also be open for cooling on Saturday and Sunday.

Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library, and Chicago Police District Locations

During hours of operation, residents can also find relief at one of the City Park District's fieldhouses, as well as pools and splash padslocated throughout the city. For more information on Park District cooling resources, please visit: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/cooling-centers

The Chicago Police Department's 22 district stations are available 24 hours for relief from the heat and to be connected with shelter. Note: Chicago Public Library and Chicago Park District locations are open on the weekend during hours of operation.

For locations visit Cooling Centers - Map | City of Chicago | Data Portal or chi.gov/cooling. Residents should contact 3-1-1 for the nearest location and hours. Note: Only the Park District facilities listed on the data portal provide access to air conditioning, as some facilities are not air-conditioned.

Homeless Services

Anyone seeking shelter may contact 3-1-1 to request shelter placement.

• The Shelter Placement and Resource Center (SPARC) - 2241 S. Halsted St.

o Provides shelter placement assistance and overflow beds for single adults.

o Not a cooling center or shelter-call ahead to ensure availability: (773) 825-3956

• The Salvation Army Emergency Assessment and Resource Center (EHARC) - 924 N. Christiana Ave.

o Not a cooling center or shelter-call ahead to ensure availability: (872) 281-7610

• DFSS-funded shelters

o Most operate 24/7 year-round.

o DFSS funds delegate agencies for expanded operations.

Street Outreach Teams

DFSS Homeless Outreach and Prevention (HOP) teams and street outreach partners work proactively with unhoused individuals to conduct well-being checks and connect with cooling options and shelter. DFSS activates street outreach teams to ensure continued support for unsheltered residents on days when some city services are closed. Outreach teams:

• Offer transportation to warming or cooling centers;
• Distribute weather-appropriate essentials (water, hygiene supplies, etc.); and,
• Provide informational resources, bus cards and food gift cards.

The Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) advises property owners and building managers to check their electrical and cooling equipment now to make sure it is in working order before the temperatures really start to rise.

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.

Pet Safety

Chicago Animal Care and Control strongly recommend keeping pets home inside during extreme heat. Most pets are safest indoors during periods of extreme heat, except when taken outside for exercise or bathroom breaks. Walk dogs during the cooler morning or evening hours and always provide access to shade and fresh water. Never leave pets unattended outside in hot weather. Even on days that don't seem excessively hot, pets can quickly overheat. Flat-faced breeds, senior pets, puppies, kittens, overweight pets, and those with medical conditions are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness.

Tips to help keep your pet safe during extreme heat are as follows:

• Never leave your pet in a parked vehicle - Even with the windows cracked, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise to dangerous levels within minutes, putting your pet at risk of heatstroke or death.
• Protect your pet's paws - Hot pavement, asphalt, sidewalks, and sand can burn sensitive paw pads. If it's too hot for your hand to comfortably touch the pavement for 7 seconds, it's too hot for your pet's paws.
• Watch for signs of heatstroke - Excessive panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, bright red gums, confusion, collapse, or seizures are signs of a medical emergency. Move your pet to a cool area immediately, offer small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water, and seek veterinary care as soon as possible.

If your pet does spend time outdoors, they should always have access to:

• A shaded area that provides protection from direct sunlight.
• Plenty of cool, fresh drinking water that is around and refilled frequently.
• A clean, well-ventilated shelter that allows air to circulate.

Exercise should be limited during the hottest parts of the day. Avoid strenuous activity when temperatures and humidity are high, and take frequent breaks in the shade. Remember that humidity makes it harder for pets to cool themselves through panting.

ComED

ComEd offers a variety of energy efficiency tips to help manage costs during extreme heat. Visit ComEd.com/HomeSavings for more information.

Public safety is paramount, and ComEd encourages customers to take the following precautions:

• If a downed power line is spotted, immediately call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661). Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237).
• Never approach a downed power line. Always assume a power line is extremely dangerous and energized.
• In the event of an outage, do not approach ComEd crews working to restore power to ask about restoration times. Crews may be working on live electrical equipment, and the perimeter of the work zone may be hazardous.

ComEd urges customers to contact the company immediately if they experience a power outage. Customers can text OUT to 26633 (COMED) to report an outage and receive restoration information and can follow the company on Twitter @ComEd or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ComEd. Customers can also call 1-800 EDISON1 (1-800-334-7661), or report outages via the website at ComEd.com/report. Spanish-speaking customers should call 1-800-95-LUCES (1-800-955-8237). With ComEd's new Outage Tracker, customers can report outages, check estimated time of restoration, view crew status updates, and explore our outage map. Visit ComEd.com/OutageTracker.

Cooling Off at the Beach?

The Chicago Park District urges patrons to enjoy the beaches safely and responsibly and look for "No Swimming Allowed" signage that indicates that swimming is not sanctioned in that area. Visitors should consult the district's website or social media platforms to ensure water conditions are safe for swimming before heading out to the beach and only enter the water when a lifeguard is on duty. Swim hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Visit links: Water Safety and chicagoparkdistrict.com.

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. To 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 and 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 emergency preparedness information, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook (facebook.com/ChicagoOEMC), TikTok (ChicagoOEMC), X (@ChicagoOEMC), Instagram (chicago_oemc_911), Bluesky (@chicagooemc.bsky.social) and Threads (@chicago_oemc_911).