New Yorkers endured document breaking warmth this June and located themselves scrambling for reduction. Whereas many New Yorkers escaped oppressive temperatures by utilizing their air conditioners, not all might. In line with Dr. Michelle E. Morse, Performing Commissioner of the New York Metropolis Division of Well being in an interview with AmNews: “It is extremely widespread for New Yorkers truly to not have air-con of their houses or flats. What’s a New Yorker to do within the sweltering warmth?” In line with Dr. Morse, there’s an excellent choice: “We actually encourage folks to make use of the cooling facilities.”
There are greater than 50 cooling facilities all through the 5 boroughs that open when temperatures spike above 95 levels for 2 or extra days or above 100 levels.
Robin Prescod, an actual property skilled and canine walker, was interviewed by AmNews at a Hamilton Heights library that was serving as a cooling middle through the current warmth wave. She mentioned she stops at cooling facilities — particularly these in New York Public Library services — on summer season evenings to ship emails, print paperwork, or cost her telephone.
“I just like the libraries, as a result of they’re quiet, cool,” Prescod mentioned. “It’s a pleasant house away from house.”
Although Prescod is an avid person of cooling facilities all through the town, she mentioned there’s room for enchancment. She instructed rising outreach by means of public service bulletins about cooling facilities when temperatures rise above ninety levels, and the potential of prolonged hours or extra snug lodging for seniors.
“There might at all times be extra mentioned about it,” Prescod mentioned. “Bear in mind, the general public library remains to be open for all of us — it’s a spot the place you may seize a ebook and funky off.”
With three major places she frequents to chill off, Prescod mentioned she is not sure what she would do with out the comfort of temperature-controlled areas to do work through the summer season.
Older adults are significantly susceptible throughout excessive temperatures and usually tend to have a power situation or take treatment that makes them vulnerable to heat-related well being issues. A portion of cooling facilities within the metropolis are open to “older adults solely” and are sometimes situated at senior facilities or luncheon golf equipment all through the town.
Star Senior Middle in Washington Heights, although open to all, focuses on accessibility and consciousness for older adults. Caseworker Marlene Diaz mentioned the middle expanded its hours this summer season and has seen elevated use in consequence, particularly through the current heatwave.
Along with decreasing warmth publicity, the middle doubles as a spot the place older adults can collect, obtain a free lunch, and take part in actions like Zumba, she mentioned. Many seniors are excited when it’s cooling middle time, Diaz added, evaluating the communal advantages of the service to an afterschool program.
“They deal with one another like household,” Diaz mentioned.
To extend accessibility the middle gives transportation for individuals and spreads the phrase about cooling middle hours by means of WhatsApp teams, Fb, and flyers.
Suzanne Lander, a library patron, stopped by the Hamilton Grange department to return books through the heatwave. Although escaping the warmth was secondary to this activity, she mentioned cooling facilities are important for folks with out AC or electrical energy when it will get scorching.
“It’s actually necessary to have sources for folks, to maintain them,” Lander mentioned.
Nonetheless, Lander added that she had not heard about cooling facilities, regardless of their necessary neighborhood position.
In line with Dr. Morse, “One of many best methods to determine the place there’s a cooling middle so that you can entry is to name 311 and they’re going to let you know in regards to the closest cooling middle to your location. These cooling facilities are secure, freely accessible, public locations which you could spend time in to chill down, and once more we actually encourage, particularly our seniors to make use of them and never use a fan alone. On this stage of warmth, it isn’t sufficient to maintain you cool.”
To study extra about the place the cooling facilities are in New York Metropolis, please use this hyperlink: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02663 or dial 311 in your telephone. The New York Public Library has an inventory of cooling facilities https://www.nypl.org/neighborhood/sources/health-wellness/cooling-centers and the New York State Division of Well being as details about Cooling Facilities and the companies that they supply: https://www.well being.ny.gov/statistics/environmental/public_health_tracking/about_pages/cooling_centers/about_cooling.
