As the mercury rises, New York City is taking proactive measures to safeguard its residents from the dangers of extreme heat. With temperatures expected to soar, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has activated a comprehensive Heat Emergency Plan, mobilizing city agencies to provide cooling centers, protect workers, and ensure public safety.

The plan comes in response to forecasts predicting feels-like temperatures as high as 109 degrees on Friday, with the heat wave extending through the holiday weekend. Last year, 21 New Yorkers died from heat-related causes, with 19 of those deaths occurring during a four-day heat wave in June. This year, the city is determined to prevent such tragedies through a coordinated effort across multiple agencies.

Cooling Centers and Resources for Residents

The Department for the Aging will operate 280 cooling centers during the week and 210 during the weekend, providing a respite from the heat for all New Yorkers. These centers can be found in libraries, community centers, senior centers, and NYCHA facilities. Additionally, 15 mobile Cooling Outreach On-Location (COOL) vans from NYC Health & Hospitals will distribute water, electrolytes, sunscreen, and provide wellness checks, medical care, and transportation to cooling centers or health care facilities.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will also operate pop-up cooling stations, complete with water, misting fans, and cooling towels. These stations are particularly important for outdoor workers, including street vendors, delivery drivers, and laborers. Health Action Centers and Overdose Prevention Centers will also serve as cooling centers, ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to cool, safe spaces.

For those looking to cool off closer to home, local firehouses will provide spray caps to turn fire hydrants into sprinklers. This initiative not only helps residents stay cool but also conserves water in case of emergencies. Pet owners can also bring their furry friends to any Petco location in New York City, which serve as cooling centers for both people and pets.

Worker Protections and Rights

Through the city’s protected time off law, most employees are entitled to up to 40 or 56 hours of paid protected time off for reasons including heat-related illness. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection will remind local workplaces of these rights, urging compliance with labor laws to protect workers from heat-related illnesses.

On June 22, Mayor Mamdani signed an executive order establishing guidance to prevent heat-related illness in the workplace. For construction workers, the Department of Buildings must review construction safety requirements to ensure they protect against heat-related illness. Municipal workers must also have heat-illness plans for both indoor and outdoor work environments.

Employers have a legal responsibility to protect employees from heat-related illness. According to guidance from the labor department, employers should provide each outdoor employee with 32 ounces of cool drinking water per hour at no cost. Employees should be given sufficient time to drink water throughout the workday, and water needs to be available at all times. Additionally, employers should provide shade and paid rest as needed when the heat index exceeds certain thresholds.

Utility Protections and Eviction Moratorium

Con Edison, the utility provider for New York City, has committed to keeping the power running during the heat wave. The company’s policy is to not disconnect power the day of, or the day before, the heat index is projected to reach 90 degrees or higher at Central Park. If the heat index exceeds 90, the company will suspend disconnections for the next two days. However, during heat waves, power grids can be overrun, leading to potential blackouts. Residents are encouraged to report any outages to Con Edison immediately.

The Department of Investigation has paused evictions on July 1 and 2, ensuring that no one is evicted during the heat wave. This moratorium is crucial as extreme heat can pose significant health risks, especially for those without access to cooling resources. Residents are advised to contact 311 to make a complaint with the city if they encounter any issues with evictions.

While there is no official policy that pauses evictions in the case of extreme heat, the city has taken proactive measures to protect residents during this heat wave. It is essential for everyone to stay informed about their rights and the resources available to them during this time.