Mayor Bass Directs Immediate Preparations Ahead of Approaching Heatwave, Announces the Opening of Additional Augmented Cooling Centers

LOS ANGELES - The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning in the Los Angeles region through Wednesday, July 24. Los Angeles MayorKaren Basstoday has directed the City to take immediate action to protect Angelenos over the coming days and released resources to assist Angelenos in staying cool.

"This summer has the potential to be the hottest summer on record," said Mayor Karen Bass. "The City is taking immediate action to ensure Angelenos are safe during this coming heat wave, especially our most vulnerable."

The Mayor's Officeof Public Safety continues to coordinate with the Emergency Management Department, Climate Emergency Mobilization Office(CEMO), LAFD, LAPD, Recreation and Parks, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), and other City Departments to ensure all departments are ready to respond to this heatwave.

The City of L.A. Climate Emergency Mobilization Officealso has created the Cool Spots L.A. app that identifies cooling amenities and their locations in L.A., such as our public libraries, recreation centers, cooling centers, community pools and splash pads, hydration stations and shade structures. Read more here. Note that the app does not include the augmented cooling centers mentioned below. Angelenos are also encouraged to sign up for NotifyLA.org, to receive heat and adverse weather alerts on your phone.

Immediately Opening Augmented Cooling Centers

The City of Los Angeles has hundreds of locations open for relief from the heat including Recreation and Parks facilities and local library branches. For location and hours of operation, visit https://www.laparks.org/reccenterand https://www.lapl.org/branches. Angelenos can also call 3-1-1 from within L.A. City to learn more.

The City is opening the following augmented cooling centers, which will be open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM from Friday, July 19th through Wednesday, July 24th.

Fred Roberts Recreation Center

4700 Honduras St.

Los Angeles, CA 90011

Mid Valley Senior Center

8825 Kester Ave.

Panorama City, CA 91402

Lake View Terrace Recreation Center

11075 Foothill Blvd.

Lake View Terrace, CA 91342

Jim Gilliam Recreation Center

4000 S. La Brea Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90008

Lincoln Heights Senior Center

2323 Workman St.

Los Angeles, CA 90031

Augmented cooling centers will be accessible to people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.

10 City Libraries are open on Sundays from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Find your closest branch here. The City is also working to open additional libraries in high heat areas during off hours. The following libraries will be amending their hours to be open on Sunday from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Visit https://www.lapl.org/branchesfor additional hours of operations.

Chinatown Branch Library

639 N Hill St.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

Pacoima Branch Library

13605 Van Nuys Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 91331

Heat Relief In Skid Row

Climate stations that provide cold beverages, seating, shade and more are open and operating in Skid Row for Angelenos to stay cool. Stations are operating at:

• Towne St. (between 5th St. & 6th St.) across the street from the ReFresh Spot.

• San Pedro St. mid-block between 6th St. & 7th St.

• 5th and Maple

The ReFresh Spot, located at 544 Towne Avenue, is also open and provides the Skid Row community access to drinking water, restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. The ReFresh Spot is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is open to anyone in the community, free of charge.

Safety Tips For Angelenos To Avoid Heat Injury

• Seek shade and refuge from the hot sun if you must be outside.

• Stay hydrated and drink more water, especially if you drink coffee or soda.

• Check in on and prepare your household, family, friends, pets and workplace.

• Limit your exposure to direct sunlight between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, when the sun's rays are strongest.

• If you feel ill, tell someone immediately. Symptoms of dehydration and heat illness may include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, nausea, muscle cramps, headache and vomiting.

• Symptoms of heat stroke include:

  • High body temperature (103°F or higher)

  • Hot, red, dry, or damp skin

  • Fast, strong pulse

  • Headache

  • Dizziness

  • Nausea

  • Confusion

  • Losing consciousness (passing out)

• In the event of a heat stroke:

  • Call 911 right away - heat stroke is a medical emergency

  • Move the person to a cooler place

  • Help lower the person's temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath

  • Do not give the person anything to drink

• Listen to your body, and remember that those with chronic illness such as asthma, heart disease etc., are more vulnerable to extreme heat. Please take extra precautions.

• Click herefor more safety tips from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

• Click here for safety tips in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Armenian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and more.

Proactively Planning To Minimize Power Outages

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is working to reduce the risk of power outages in Los Angeles. LADWP will work around the clock to meet customer demand over the period of the heat wave. LADWP electric trouble crews are fully staffed and ready to respond to power outages, should they occur. Additional crews are also on standby to assist as needed.

In the event of a power outage:

• Report power outages at www.ladwp.com/outagesor by calling 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397).

• LADWP customers can sign up to receive outage alerts via text or email at www.ladwp.com/outagealert.

• LADWP also shares updates on outage restoration progress to affected communities via NextDoor.com.

To find out more about LADWP's rebates and programs, click here.

Pools & Splash Pads

The Department of Recreation and Parks will offer these facilities during hours of operation to the public. Click herefor more information.

Spreading Heat Safety Awareness

The Mayor's Officeand the City's Chief Heat Officer are working in sync with City Departments and Bureaus, L.A. County, and a network of NGOs, to build heat safety awareness and prepare for heat risks in a proactive, coordinated, and equity-driven approach. The City has launched a multilingual heat safety campaign, "Heat Relief 4 LA", which includes information in multiple languages to help keep Angelenos safe during extreme heat events this summer. The Public Service Announcement can also be found on Bus Shelters in various languages throughout the City of LA. Learn more here.

Protecting Our Pets From Extreme Heat

In preparation for extreme heat, the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services offers these tips to keep your animals safe:

• Avoid walking pets during the warmest parts of the day (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM). If you must walk your pet, avoid hot surfaces.

• Never leave your pet alone inside a vehicle. A car can overheat even when a window has been slightly opened.

• Give your pet extra water. Always make sure your pet has plenty of fresh water to drink. If your pet enjoys ice cubes, add them to their water dish.

• Keep pets indoors (if possible) during hot weather, but if you keep them outside, ensure they have adequate shade to escape the sun, and ensure that they have plenty of fresh water nearby.

• Avoid hot surfaces. Touch the ground first before venturing out. If the surface is too hot to touch with your hand or bare feet, it's too hot for your pet's paws.

For more information about LA Animal Services and tips to keep pets and people safe, click here.

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