Today, Mayor Michelle Wu extended the previously announced heat emergency in the City of Boston through Monday, August 8 due to the upcoming weather forecasts. High temperatures will reach into the 80s, with the heat index expected to reach over 90 degrees.
“With the weather forecast now showing the high temperatures and humidity lasting through Monday, we’re extending the heat emergency to make sure all of our Boston residents and families are safe,” said Mayor Michelle Wu . “I encourage residents to continue to utilize our cooling centers and splash pads, and to check on your neighbors.”
To help residents stay cool, cooling centers will be open at 16 Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) community centers through Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A full list of centers can be found at boston.gov/heat . Due to the rising COVID-19 case count, the use of masks in cooling centers is strongly recommended. Additionally, splash pads will be open at parks and playgrounds throughout the City. Select indoor BCYF pools are open. Registration for a time to swim can be found at this link .
Members of Boston EMS continue to stay busy, responding to over 400 medical emergencies a day. During heat waves the department can see a 15 to 20% increase in calls to 9-1-1.
Boston EMS Chief James Hooley reminds residents to “drink plenty of water and limit time in the heat. Confusion and weakness can be signs of heat-related illness, requiring immediate medical assistance. It doesn’t matter how young or healthy you are, everyone is vulnerable to the effects of extreme temperatures.”
The City of Boston is taking critical immediate action to provide heat relief, including short-term, actionable steps toward relief during heat waves. The City of Boston has been engaging in a variety of catalytic projects to support extreme heat mitigation and improved health for residents. This includes the distribution of pop-up cooling kits with a hose, misters, and a tent to community organizations that have public events this summer.
Boston Public Library locations are available for residents to seek relief from the heat. The East Boston and Egleston Square branches recently installed misters in their outdoor free WiFi zones.
The Boston Public Schools is encouraging students and their families to prepare for hot weather this week by staying well hydrated and dressing appropriately. Families are welcome to send their children to their respective summer programs, which will provide students with water and meals. Additionally, the majority of summer sites are equipped with air conditioning and fans will be delivered to sites in need of cooling.
Information on heat safety tips can be found online at boston.gov/heat and by following @CityofBoston on Twitter. Residents can sign up for AlertBoston, the City's emergency notification system, to receive emergency alerts by phone, email or text. Sign up online here . Residents are also encouraged to call 311 with any questions about available City services.
The Mayor issued the following heat safety tips:
Mayor Wu recently announced Heat Resilience Solutions for Boston , a citywide framework to prepare Boston for hotter summers and more intense heat events. The Heat Plan presents 26 strategies that will help build a more just, equitable, and resilient Boston. To support the implementation of the Heat Plan, the City will launch the Boston Extreme Temperatures Response Task Force, which will help deliver a unified, all-of-government response to address chronic high temperature conditions and prepare the city in advance of extreme heat events. The Task Force’s work will be supported by the Environment Department, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Boston Public Health Commission’s Office of Public Health Preparedness with the goal of collaboratively protecting and promoting the health and wellbeing of Boston residents facing increasing temperatures and other climate risks.