NYC rolls out emergency response to heat wave

DOWNTOWN — Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials warned at a press conference at the city’s Emergency Management Headquarters on Monday that New York City will be blasted with heat indexes of up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit through Wednesday.

“This heat is not normal, climate change is here, and it’s a real and present danger if you are not prepared,” he told reporters. Adams said the city’s “whole apparatus” is coordinating together to handle the latest heat wave, including MTA, Con Edison, Health + Hospitals and Emergency Management. More than 500 cooling centers, many in libraries and some pet-friendly, will be open. (Find a center at finder.nyc.gov/coolingcenters, or call 311.)

The city has extended hours at its Olympic- and intermediate-sized public pools, which will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Beaches will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, but officials warned residents to swim only when a lifeguard is on duty, as dangerous tide conditions persist. Additional city staff will be at the beaches, including extra drone support at Rockaway.

To help protect the power grid, NYC will be reducing energy consumption at 600 city-owned buildings, the mayor said.

Heat is breaking all records

The heads of city agencies warned residents to take the heat warnings seriously.

“You’ll really start feeling it tomorrow [Tuesday],” Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol said. “The heat index is predicted to hit approximately 102 or 38.8 degrees Celsius [Tuesday], and 100 degrees or 37.7 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.” There will be little respite from the heat overnight. 

This year’s heat has broken all records, he said. “Since June 1st, nearly 75% of daily max…