LOS ANGELES – The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning in the Los Angeles region through Monday, July 8. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass today has directed the City to take immediate action to protect Angelenos over the coming holiday weekend and released resources to assist Angelenos in staying cool.
“This Summer has the potential to be the hottest Summer on record, and the City will be taking immediate action to ensure Angelenos are safe,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “As we experience our first major heatwave of the summer, we want to ensure that our most vulnerable have access to cooling centers citywide and that all Angelenos, especially those living in warmer areas like the Valley, have access to resources so that they are able to stay cool and safe.”
The Mayor’s Office of Public Safety is coordinating with the Emergency Management Department, Climate Emergency Mobilization Office (CEMO), LAFD, LAPD, Recreation and Parks, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), and other City Departments to ensure all departments are ready to respond to this heatwave.
The City of L.A. Climate Emergency Mobilization Office also has created the Cool Spots L.A. app that identifies cooling amenities and their locations in L.A., such as our public libraries, recreation centers, cooling centers, community pools and splash pads, hydration stations and shade structures. Read more here. Note that the app does not include the augmented cooling centers mentioned below. Angelenos are also encouraged to sign up for NotifyLA.org, to receive Heat and adverse weather alerts on your phone.
Immediately Opening Augmented Cooling Centers
The City of Los Angeles has hundreds of cooling centers open throughout the city in the form of Recreation and Parks facilities and local library branches. For location and hours of operation, visit https://www.laparks.org/reccenter and https://www.lapl.org/branches. Angelenos can also call 3-1-1 from within L.A. City to learn more.
The City is opening the following Augmented cooling centers, which will be open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM from Wednesday, July 3rd through Monday, July 8th.
Fred Roberts Recreation Center
4700 Honduras St.
Los Angeles, CA 90011
Mid Valley Senior Center
8825 Kester Ave.
Panorama City, CA 91402
Lake View Terrace Recreation Center
11075 Foothill Blvd.
Lake View Terrace, CA 91342
Jim Gilliam Recreation Center
4000 S. La Brea Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90008
Augmented cooling centers will be accessible to people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.
Heat Relief In Skid Row
Climate stations that provide cold beverages, seating, shade and more are open and operating in Skid Row for Angelenos to stay cool. Stations are operating at:
Towne St. (between 5th St. & 6th St.) across the street from the ReFresh Spot.
San Pedro St. mid-block between 6th St. & 7th St.
5th and Maple will be open by July 15
The ReFresh Spot, located at 544 Towne Avenue, is also open and provides the Skid Row community access to drinking water, restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. The ReFresh Spot is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is open to anyone in the community, free of charge.
Safety Tips For Angelenos To Avoid Heat Injury
Seek shade and refuge from the hot sun if you must be outside.
Stay hydrated and drink more water, especially if you drink coffee or soda.
Check in on and prepare your household, family, friends, pets and workplace.
Limit your exposure to direct sunlight between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, when the sun's rays are strongest.
If you feel ill, tell someone immediately. Symptoms of dehydration and heat illness may include dizziness, fatigue, faintness, nausea, muscle cramps, headache and vomiting.
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
High body temperature (103°F or higher)
Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
Fast, strong pulse
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Confusion
Losing consciousness (passing out)
In the event of a heat stroke:
Call 911 right away-heat stroke is a medical emergency
Move the person to a cooler place
Help lower the person's temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath
Do not give the person anything to drink
Listen to your body, and remember that those with chronic illness such as asthma, heart disease etc., are more vulnerable to extreme heat. Please take extra precautions.
Click here for more safety tips from the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Click here for safety tips in multiple languages including English, Spanish, Armenian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and more.
Proactively Planning To Minimize Power Outages
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is working to reduce the risk of power outages in Los Angeles. LADWP will work around the clock to meet customer demand over the period of the heat wave. LADWP electric trouble crews are fully staffed and ready to respond to power outages, should they occur. Additional crews are also on standby to assist as needed. As part of a program launched last year, LADWP will suspend collections-related water and power shut-offs for all customers during extreme heat and cold weather events.
In the event of a power outage:
Report power outages at www.ladwp.com/outages or by calling 1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397).
LADWP customers can sign up to receive outage alerts via text or email at www.ladwp.com/outagealert.
LADWP also shares updates on outage restoration progress on X, the app formerly known as Twitter, @LADWP and NextDoor.com.
To find out more about LADWP’s rebates and programs, click here.
Pools & Splash Pads
The Department of Recreation and Parks will offer these facilities during hours of operation to the public. Click here for more information.
Spreading Awareness
The Mayor’s Office and the City’s Chief Heat Officer are working in sync with City Departments and Bureaus, L.A. County, and a network of NGOs, to build heat safety awareness and prepare for heat risks in a proactive, coordinated, and equity-driven approach. The City has launched a multilingual heat safety campaign, “Heat Relief 4 LA”, which includes information in multiple languages to help keep Angelenos safe during extreme heat events this summer. Our Public Service Announcement can also be found on Bus Shelters in various languages throughout the City of LA. Learn more here.
Protecting Our Pets
Before, during and after the 4th of July, the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services offers these tips to keep your animals safe:
Keep your pets away from fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in Los Angeles and can be harmful or even fatal to people and pets.
Keep your pets indoors. Create a calm space where your pet will feel safe, like a favorite room, bed or crate, and include their favorite toy or blanket to avoid panic.
Ensure your pet is microchipped and wearing a current LA City dog license so you can be reunited if fireworks noise causes panic and the animal runs away. Get a FREE microchip (while supplies last) through tomorrow, Wednesday, July 3 for your pet from any of the six Los Angeles City animal shelters. For more information, click here.
In preparation for extreme heat, the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services offers these tips to keep your animals safe:
Avoid walking pets during the warmest parts of the day (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM). If you must walk your pet, avoid hot surfaces.
Never leave your pet alone inside a vehicle. A car can overheat even when a window has been slightly opened.
Give your pet extra water. Always make sure your pet has plenty of fresh water to drink. If your pet enjoys ice cubes, add them to their water dish.
Keep pets indoors (if possible) during hot weather, but if you keep them outside, ensure they have adequate shade to escape the sun, and ensure that they have plenty of fresh water nearby.
Avoid hot surfaces. Touch the ground first before venturing out. If the surface is too hot to touch with your hand or bare feet, it's too hot for your pet's paws.
For more information about LA Animal Services and tips to keep pets and people safe, click here.