Philadelphia's Heat Health Emergency takes effect | What that means for you

"It's just so muggy. California is dry. Florida is dry. This is muggy. It's unbearable," said a Philly resident.

Katherine Scott Image
Monday, August 8, 2022
Philly's Heat Health Emergency takes effect
A declaration of a Heat Health Emergency activates the city's emergency heat programs.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A Heat Health Emergency in Philadelphia began at noon Monday and is scheduled to end Tuesday night.



Runner Jake Stein anticipated the temperatures and was out early for his run along the Delaware River.



"Outside of this, I'm staying indoors all day," remarked Stein.



He wasn't alone.



"I definitely don't run as far or as hard as I usually do," stated Aaron Moskowitz of Northern Liberties. "Just try to moderate it and get it when it's cool and cut it short when I need to."



For a lot of people we spoke to around Race Street Pier, what can really make breathing unpleasant is the air quality.



They look for shade and hopefully a little breeze off the water.



"I try to go a little earlier when it's this thick and icky out. Absolutely. But I see a lot of the same people- and so they are all dialing it earlier," said Lynne Smilow of Society Hill.



In Washington Square, Rachel Krauser was out with her daughter's dog, Moses, before it got too steamy.



"I'm out early today so we can take a nice long walk before it gets hot," said Krauser.



Thomas O'Hara of South Philadelphia has lived in different states and feels the heat here can be particularly nasty.



"It's just so muggy. California is dry. Florida is dry. This is muggy. It's unbearable," said O'Hara.



Philadelphia Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole issued a Heat Health Emergency, which is scheduled to end at 8 p.m. Tuesday, in response to the forecast maximum heat index values.



A declaration of a Heat Health Emergency activates the city's emergency heat programs, which include the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging Heatline, cooling centers and home visits by special field teams.



The PCA Heatline at 215-765-9040 will be open between 12 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on Monday and will run from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.



"The Health Department declares a Heat Health Emergency when the temperature gets high enough that vulnerable people - especially our elderly neighbors and family members - are at an increased risk of getting sick or dying from the heat," said Bettigole.



People who do not have air conditioning are advised to seek relief from the heat by visiting friends or relatives who have air conditioning. The City will be opening a variety of alternate cooling sites that will be available for use by all Philadelphia residents looking to escape the heat.



Cooling Centers


Libraries


These libraries will operate with extended hours on Monday and Tuesday:



Lucien E. Blackwell Regional Library


125 South 52nd Street


215-685-7431


Open until 7 p.m.



Joseph E. Coleman Regional Library


68 West Chelten Avenue


215-685-2150


Open until 7 p.m.



Blanche A. Nixon Cobbs Creek Library


5800 Cobbs Creek Parkway


215-685-1973


Open until 8 p.m.



Fox Chase Library


501 Rhawn Street


215-685-0547


Open until 8 p.m.



Frankford Library


4634 Frankford Avenue


215-685-1473


Open until 7 p.m.



Fumo Family Library


2437 South Broad Street


215-685-1758


Open until 7 p.m.



Haddington Library (meeting room only)



446 North 65th Street


215-685-1970


Open until 7 p.m.



Lillian Marrero Library (meeting room only)


601 West Lehigh Avenue


215-685-9794


Open until 7 p.m.



Logan Library


1333 Wagner Avenue


215-685-9156


Open until 7 p.m.



Oak Lane Library


6614 North 12th Street


215-685-2848


Open until 7 p.m.



Widener Library


2808 West Lehigh Avenue


215-685-9799


Open until 7 p.m.



Cooling Buses


The City of Philadelphia has partnered with SEPTA to station cooling buses with air conditioning that are available to the public at the following intersections:



- Germantown Avenue and Allegheny Avenue


- Wyoming Avenue and Rising Sun Avenue


- Broad Street and Snyder Avenue


- 70th Street and Woodland Avenue


Buses will be available to the public between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, and between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday.



Masks, hand sanitizer, water, and information about heat safety and utility assistance programs will be available on the buses. Press will NOT be given access inside of cooling buses, to allow residents to cool off in a private space.



Pools and Spraygrounds

Residents are also encouraged to visit any of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation's spraygrounds and pools. Pools will be offering free swim during open hours for the duration of the Heat Health Emergency.



Residents can find all of the identified Cooling Centers, as well as spraygrounds, on this map or by calling 311.



Older Adult Centers



Philadelphia Parks & Recreation's older adult centers will be open. Older Adult Centers all have air conditioning and are open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.



Utility Shutoffs

Philadelphia Water Department shutoffs are suspended during a Heat Health Emergency. Shutoffs for non-payment will resume after the Heat Health Emergency ends.



Outreach and shelter for homeless individuals

The Office of Homeless Services also declared a Code Red that began Thursday, August 4, 2022, and will take proactive measures to protect Philadelphians who are experiencing homelessness. Call the outreach team at (215) 232-1984 if you see someone on the street who needs shelter or other homeless services. Call 911 if there is a medical emergency.

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