Sustainable DC Newsletter - June 2022

Summer is finally here! Everything is all bright colors and intense sunshine. Sunshine sointense, you can see the humid haze in the air and the heat radiating from the sidewalks. A sure sign that the summer heat waves are here as well.

Extreme heat, often referred to as a "heat wave,” is an extended period of high temperature usually accompanied by high humidity. This past month DC saw one of the most extreme May temperatures in the last decade. Temperatures rose to the high 90s (highly unusual that early in the year) and we are set to experience even higher temperatures before the season ends.

Extreme heat can be, well, extremely dangerous. Temperatures in this range can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat can also decrease water and air quality, cause blackouts, and affect overall city infrastructure. In the District, the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency’s (HSEMA) Heat Emergency Plan is available to address times of extreme heat. It is initiated whenever the heat index reaches 95 degrees, with “cooling centers” being activated across the city.

Cooling centers are places where residents can gain some relief during extreme heat periods. They range from air-conditioned facilities such as libraries and recreation centers to outdoor spaces such as swimming pools and spray parks. Once activated, these cooling centers are fully open to the public and available across all Wards.

Click here to access the District’s interactive 2022 Cooling Center Map and find your local cooling center.

You can start preparing for the heat ahead by staying informed through District social media and communication channels, downloading the free HSEMA app, signing up for AlertDC, creating a Family Emergency Plan, or building and re-stocking your Emergency Kit. For more information on where to go and what to do, call 311 or text 32311.

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