LA heat wave continues to prompt extended hours at cooling centers

Cooling facilities will extend their hours until 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday

The locations of cooling centers with extended hours are noted above in yellow.

The Los Angeles Office of the National Weather Service forecasts hot temperatures for the next few days. Downtown Los Angeles is expected to reach a high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures in the San Fernando Valley are expected to climb to triple digits.  

Cooling Facilities:

The following Recreation and Parks facilities will remain open until 9p.m. today, Monday, August 13th and Tuesday August 14th.  City facilities provide reasonable accommodations to ensure accessibility and effective communication for people with disabilities, access and functional needs. For more information, visit: http://disability.lacity.org/. 

Canoga Park Senior Citizen Center

7326 Jordan Ave.

Canoga Park, CA 91303

(818) 340-2633 Sepulveda Recreation Center

8801 Kester Ave.

Panorama City, CA 91402

(818) 893-3700

North Hollywood Recreation Center

11430 Chandler Blvd.

North Hollywood, CA 91601

(818) 763-7651

Sylmar Recreation Center

13109 Borden Ave.

Sylmar, CA 91342

(818) 367-5656

Sunland Senior Citizen Center

8640 Fenwick St.

Sunland, CA 91040

(818) 353-9571

Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center

5060 Van Nuys Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

(818) 981-1284

Preventing vehicular heat stroke fatalities:

High temperatures can cause vehicular heat stroke fatalities.  It is imperative that adults never leave children (or pets) alone in cars. Individuals should be particularly mindful of this during periods of excessive heat. The Los Angeles Police Department has provided several tips for preventing vehicular heat stroke:

  • Never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, even if the windows are partly open or the engine and air conditioning are running.
  • Look inside the vehicle, front and back, before walking away.
  • Place a purse, briefcase or other necessary item in the back seat so you’ll see a child or pet left behind.
  • Don’t let kids play in an unattended vehicle.
  • Lock the car doors and trunk and keep the keys out of a child’s reach.
  • Call 911 if you see a child or pet left inside a vehicle.

For more information on vehicular heat stroke deaths among children, visit KidsAndCars.org.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power:

No heat related outages have been reported at this time. Should power outages occur, residents that require power to run medical or other life saving equipment can contact DWP’s Customer Service Line at 1-800-DIALDWP (342-5397), or go to www.ladwp.com for more information about their Lifeline Services Program. 

Other Tips to Beat the Heat:

During periods of extreme heat, there is an increased risk of heat exhaustion, heat cramps and sunstroke. Here’s what you can do to protect yourself against extreme heat:

  • Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Attempt to stay hydrated. Persons who have epilepsy; heart, kidney or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake. 
  • Avoid unnecessary sun exposure, wear a hat, preferably with a wide brim, when in the sun and use sunscreen.
  • Check on family members, seniors, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
  • Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
  • Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation. 
  • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers.  
  • Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available. 
  • Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
  • Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. 
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. 
  • Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and take frequent breaks. 

To learn more preparedness tips, visit readyla.org, the City’s official readiness, response and recovery website. 

Sign up to have emergency notifications sent to you whether at home or on the go at alert.lacounty.gov.

EMD Social Media and Information Sites:

Twitter (twitter.com/readyla) 

Facebook (www.facebook.com/readylaemd) 

readyla.org 

emergency.lacity.org

EMD Information Helpline (800) 439-2909 

About the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department

In 2000 the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor established, by ordinance, the Emergency Management Department (EMD). EMD is dedicated to leading the City in comprehensive emergency management planning, mitigation and preparation as well as response to and recovery from natural, manmade and accidental incidents of high consequence. 

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Excessive heat warning in LA: Cancelled

All City cooling centers have returned to regular business hours.

The National Weather Service has cancelled its excessive heat warning effective today, July 12, 2012. All designated cooling centers in the City of Los Angeles whose hours were extended to 9:00 p.m. return to regular business hours.

City facilities are always open to residents seeking relief from the heat during normal business hours. Those facilities include libraries, city-operated senior centers and Recreation and Parks (RAP) locations. To find a cooling center near you and hours of operation, call 3-1-1 or click here.

Health Concern: Preventing vehicular heat stroke fatalities

High temperatures can cause vehicular heat stroke fatalities. It is imperative that adults never leave children (or pets) alone in cars. Individuals should be particularly mindful of this during periods of excessive heat. The Los Angeles Police Department has provided several tips for preventing vehicular heat stroke: Never leave a child or pet unattended in a vehicle, even if the windows are partly open or the engine and air conditioning are running. Look inside the vehicle, front and back, before walking away. Place a purse, briefcase or other necessary item in the back seat so you’ll see a child or pet left behind. Don’t let kids play in an unattended vehicle. Lock the car doors and trunk and keep the keys out of a child’s reach. Ask your day-care provider to call if your child doesn’t show up on time. If a child is missing, check the car and trunk. Call 911 if you see a child or pet left inside a vehicle.

For more information on vehicular heat stroke deaths among children, visit KidsAndCars.org.

Tips to help beat the heat:

  • Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Attempt to stay hydrated. Persons who have epilepsy; heart, kidney or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake. 
  • Check on family members, seniors, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone. 
  • Never leave children or pets in closed vehicles.
  • Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls and other community facilities.
  • Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation. Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers. 
  • Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available. 
  • Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician. Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. 
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. 
  • Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and take frequent breaks. Slow down and avoid strenuous activity.

For general information regarding safety when temperatures are high, visit our website at readyla.org.

EMD Social Media and Information Sites:

  • Twitter (twitter.com/readyla) 
  • Facebook (facebook.com/readylaemd) 
  • readyla.org 
  • emergency.lacity.org 
  • EMD Information Helpline (800) 439-2909 L.A. 
  • City 3-1-1 Information Line (8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.)

About the Emergency Management Department:

In 2000 the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor established, by ordinance, the Emergency Management Department (EMD). EMD is dedicated to leading the City in comprehensive emergency management planning, mitigation and preparation as well as response to and recovery from natural, manmade and accidental incidents of high consequence.

Photo Credit: igloo101/ Flickr Creative Commons

Heat wave prompts extended hours at specified cooling centers

July 11, 2012  

Media contacts:

Chris Ipsen (213) 359-2234

Veronica Hendrix (213) 505-5461

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an excessive heat warning for the San Fernando Valley effective today, July 11, 2012, at 11 a.m. through 7 p.m. Thursday, July 12, 2012. It is predicted that temperatures will peak Thursday. By Friday, July 13, 2012, temperatures will begin to drop. All Recreation and Parks (RAP) facilities, libraries and city-operated senior centers are used as cooling centers to provide the public with relief from the heat and can be accessed during normal business hours. To find a cooling center near you, call 3-1-1.

However, excessive heat warnings issued by the NWS prompt the City of Los Angeles to extend the hours of specified cooling centers in the areas most impacted by the heat.

The following cooling centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.:

Sunland Senior Citizen

8640 Fenwick St., Sunland, CA 91040

(818) 353-9571

Canoga Senior Citizen

7326 Jordan Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91303

(818) 340-2633

Sherman Oaks East Valley Adult Center

(formally Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Senior Center)

5060 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

(818) 981-1284

North Hollywood Recreation Center

11430 Chandler Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601

(818) 763-7651

Sylmar Recreation Center

13109 Borden Ave., Sylmar, CA 91342

(818) 367-5656

Sepulveda Recreation Center

8801 Kester Ave., Panorama City, CA 91402

(818) 893-3700

LADWP Update:

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) requests customers report power outages by calling DWP’s Customer Service Line at 1-800-DIALDWP (342-5397). Residents who require power to run medical or other life-saving equipment can contact DWP’s Customer Service Line at 1-800-DIALDWP (342-5397), or go to www.ladwp.com for more information about their Lifeline Services Program. 

Since energy use does tend to spike during periods of hot weather, the DWP offers a few ways to conserve energy during this heat wave:

  • Turn off lights when not in use.
  • Adjust thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce energy usage.
  • Limit the use of appliances during peak hours of the day — use washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other heavy appliances during evening hours.
  • Try to avoid cooking during peak hours of the day since it will add to the heat inside the home.
  • Ventilate your home at night by opening windows and doors to clear out the heat and allow cooler air to circulate.

Follow these tips to help beat the heat:

  • Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Attempt to stay hydrated. Persons who have epilepsy; heart, kidney or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake. 
  • Check on family members, seniors, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
  • Never leave children or pets in closed vehicles.
  • Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation. 
  • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers.  
  • Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available. 
  • Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
  • Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. 
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. 
  • Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. 
  • Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and take frequent breaks. 
  • Slow down and avoid strenuous activity.

EMD Social Media and Information Sites: 

  • Twitter (twitter.com/readyla) 
  • Facebook (facebook.com/readylaemd) 
  • readyla.org 
  • emergency.lacity.org
  • EMD Information Helpline (800) 439-2909 
  • L.A. City 3-1-1 Information Line (8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.)

 

 

Photo Credit: Muffet/Flickr Creative Commons

Heat wave continues in City of Los Angeles

The triple-digit temperatures may worsen air quality.

July 10, 2012  

MEDIA CONTACTS

Chris Ipsen (213) 359-2234

Veronica Hendrix (213) 505-5461

The National Weather Service forecasts that hot conditions will continue across the City of Los Angeles through Thursday, July 12.  Temperatures could reach over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the San Fernando Valley. Mountain and desert thunderstorms are also possible during the afternoon and evening hours through Friday, July 13. Temperatures are expected to cool down by Friday. 

The low humidity, high temperatures and dry brush around the mountain regions raise fire concerns. Residents living near brush areas should clear the brush around their homes and make sure they have an evacuation and emergency plan in place. Visit readyla.org, the City’s readiness, response and recovery website, for more information. 

The hot and dry conditions associated with heat waves may worsen air quality. If you plan to be outdoors, the risk of heat exhaustion, heat cramps and sunstrokes increases. The Emergency Management Department (EMD) encourages the public to take precautions in order to protect themselves from the effects of the heat in the following ways:

Find a cooling center:

Designated City facilities are used as cooling centers to provide the public with relief from the heat.  City facilities are always open to the public during regular business hours. Those facilities include Recreation and Parks (RAP) facilities, senior citizen centers operated by RAP and City libraries. During periods of high temperatures, the City may extend the hours of such facilities beyond regular business hours. At this time, the City has not extended any facility’s hours beyond normal business hours. 

For more information regarding City facilities, contact the following: 

  • RAP Facilities - hours of operation vary by facility. The public can find specific hours of operation at www.laparks.org. RAP facilities are physically accessible to persons with access and functional needs
  • Library Facilities - hours of operation for libraries vary by facility. The general public should visit www.lapl.org/branches or call (213) 228-7000 for specific hours of operation.
  • City operated senior centers - hours of operation vary by facility. Call (323) 816-6712 or visit http://www.laparks.org/dos/senior/senior.htm

Follow These Tips to Help Beat the Heat:

  • Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Attempt to stay hydrated. Persons who have epilepsy; heart, kidney or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake. 
  • Check on family members, seniors, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
  • Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
  • Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. Consider spending the warmest part of the day in public buildings such as libraries, schools, movie theaters, shopping malls and other community facilities. Circulating air can cool the body by increasing the perspiration rate of evaporation. 
  • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers.  
  • Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available. 
  • Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
  • Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. 
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. 
  • Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat. 
  • Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and take frequent breaks. 
  • Slow down and avoid strenuous activity.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) reports no power outages at this time. Power outages can be reported by calling DWP’s Customer Service Line at 1-800-DIALDWP (342-5397). Residents who require power to run medical or other life- saving equipment can contact DWP’s Customer Service Line at 1-800-DIALDWP (342-5397), or go to www.ladwp.com for more information about their Lifeline Services Program. 

EMD Social Media and Information Sites: 

  • Twitter (twitter.com/readyla) 
  • Facebook (facebook.com/readylaemd) 
  • readyla.org 
  • emergency.lacity.org
  • EMD Information Helpline (800) 439-2909

About the Emergency Management Department

In 2000 the Los Angeles City Council and Mayor established, by ordinance, the Emergency Management Department (EMD). EMD is dedicated to leading the City in comprehensive emergency management planning, mitigation and preparation as well as response to and recovery from natural, manmade and accidental incidents of high consequence. 

Photo credit: The Conservation Law Foundation/ Flickr Creative Commons