Heat Plans for CitiesTake a look at the following heat plans to see if your city includes advisories that these cities incorporate.
Heat Emergency Plan - Kansas City
Heat Emergency Plan - St Louis
Heat Emergency Plan-Chicago
Heat Tips
Heat Emergency Plan - Kansas City
(a) Heat Advisory-Low level warning
(b) Heat Alert-Secondary level warning
(c) Heat Emergency-High level warning
(d) Post Emergency
(e) High-risk Groups Identified
(a) Heat Advisory-Low level warning
(1). A heat advisory will be issued during the first hot weather in early summer when the heat index first reaches 95 degrees or greater by 11:00 a.m.
(2). During a heat advisory, there will be press releases on coping with heat, high-risk groups and acclimation to the heat.
(3). Monitoring of Truman Medical Center, MAST, and the Jackson County Medical Examiner's office for heat-related illnesses and deaths will intensify.
(4). A heat advisory will not be cancelled.Back to Top of Kansas City Section Back to Top of Page
(b) Heat Alert-Secondary level warning
(1). A heat alert will be issued when the heat index reaches or is forecast to reach 105 degrees or greater by 11:00 a.m.
(2). The public will be advised to avoid strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day, to minimize time in the sun, spend time in air-conditioned environments, and to check on the elderly and high-risk people regularly.
(3). Agencies will be requested to provide fans (and air conditioners to high-risk groups), and to open shelters.
(4). Emergency preparedness will notify State Emergency Management Agency and the Health Department will notify Missouri Department of Health.
(5). A heat alert will be cancelled after two days of lower heat indices.Back to Top of Kansas City Section Back to Top of Page
(c) Heat Emergency-High level warning
(1). A heat emergency will be declared by the Health Director or his designee if the heat index peaks above 105 degrees for three consecutive days, peaks above 130 degrees for one day, or if the temperature does not drop below 85 degrees for one night.
(2). The Health Department will intensify monitoring of temperatures, DOA's, area hospital emergency departments, the medical examiner's office, and the Action Center for heat-related indicators.
(3). City departments and community agencies participating in heat response are contacted and put on stand-by alert.
(4). Agencies will identify neighborhood churches and facilities with air conditioning in high-risk neighborhoods and request that they open 24 hours a day for cool shelters.
(5). Participating agencies will be requested to identify and contact handicapped people daily by phone or in person. The Health Department will notify the Missouri Department of Health.
(6). Emergency Management will open the Emergency Operations Center, and city departments and community agencies are contacted for staffing. State Emergency Management Agency will be notified.
(7). City Communications will be notified and specific information concerning the City's heat response is compiled and released to the media.
(8). The public will be urged to stay out of the heat, in air-conditioned surroundings, and in cool water as much as possible.
Back to Top of Kansas City Section Back to Top of Page
(d) Post Emergency
(1). Begin winding down of operation when the temperature and heat index show that the heat emergency has abated.
(2). Complete after-action reporting by all operational elements.
(3). Health Department and City Emergency Management prepare summaries for the City Manager.
(4). Return to heat advisory or heat alert status as required.
(5). Incorporate lessons learned during the heat emergency to make appropriate and timely additions to procedures.Back to Top of Kansas City Section Back to Top of Page
High-risk Groups Identified
Besides the low income and the elderly, other groups of people have been identified at high risk for heat-related illnesses. These groups include:
(1) Infants under one year of age in homes without air conditioning.
(2) The ill and disabled.
(3) Persons taking certain prescription medications, such as diuretics, sedatives, and narcotics.
Back to Top of Kansas City Section Back to TopHeat Emergency Plan - St Louis
(a) Hot Weather Health Advisory
(b) Hot Weather Health Warning(a). Hot Weather Health Advisory
A hot weather health advisory will be issued for the City and County when the National Weather Service reports that a City heat index of 105 degrees is predicted or attained. The National Weather Service will issue a Special Heat Advisory for the City at the same time. The St. Louis Department of Health and Hospitals will notify St. Louis County Department of Health and OWS contacts. Monitoring of emergency rooms, hospitals and EMS for reports of heat illness will begin.(b). Hot Weather Health Warning
A hot weather health warning will be issued when:
1. The City heat index has been 105 degrees or higher for two consecutive days and
2. The National Weather Service predictions are for heat indexes to remain at or above 105 degrees for at least an additional 48 hours.
During a Warning, OWS agencies will work to insure that all programs that provide services in the community for relief of heat stress to prevent heat illness are functioning.A Warning will be downgraded or canceled when the City heat index falls below 105 degrees for 48 continuous hours and the forecast is for at least 48 hours of continued relief.
Back to Top of St.Louis Section Back to Top
Heat Emergency Plan-Chicago
(a). Monitoring the Heat
(b). Heat Watch
(c). Heat Warning
(a). Monitoring the Heat
The City will respond to weather reports from the National Weather Service (NWS), which will be utilizing the following terminology: Heat Watch and Heat Warning. O'Hare International Airport will serve as the official NWS monitoring site for Chicago.
Back to Top(b). Heat Watch
The Chicago Forecast Office of the NWS declares a Heat Watch when weather conditions consistent with a Heat Warning are anticipated. The Fire Commissioner coordinates Heat Watch operations. All city departments are notified, designated their duties, given City's heat tips for posting and distributing. Announcements of cooling
center locations are made. Special care is taken to help seniors, disabled and others at-riskBack to Top of Chicago Section Back to Top
(c). Heat Warning
The Chicago Forecast Office of the NWS declares a Heat Warning when present or imminent weather conditions threaten the health and well-being of citizens, particularly senior citizens, the very young and people who are limited by disabling conditions. During a Heat Warning, the City activates the designated emergency response plan and the Fire Commissioner assumes leadership of the emergency response. Again all city departments are notified, designated their duties and cooling centers are opened on a 24-hour basis.Back to Top of Chicago Section Back to Top
* Most of these safety procedures are taken from heat plans of Kansas City, Chicago and St. Louis.
- Wear loose, preferably light cotton clothing. Wear a hat to protect the head from the sun.
- Eat light, cool, easily digested foods - avoid hot, heavy, greasy meals. Avoid using ovens.
- Drink lots of water and natural juices.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee and cola.
- Take a cool bath or shower periodically; use cool towels.
- Keep electric lights down low or turned off.
- Keep shades drawn and blinds closed, but windows slightly open.
- Protect against sunburn. A sunburn will reduce the body's ability to cool itself.
- Don't ever use a fan in a closed room without windows or doors open to the outside. **Increased air movement (i.e, with fans) is associated with increased heat stress when the ambient temperature exceeds approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit (the exact temperature varies with the humidity). Therefore, fans are not protective at temperatures higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity greater than 35%.
- Remember, children under 5 years old are especially sensitive to high temperatures.
- Do not leave children in a car. Babies are especially vulnerable.
- If you are elderly and feel unusually weak, dizzy or confused, call 911 immediately.
- Call your family and friends. Check on elderly or incapacitated persons as frequently as possible.
- Take advantage of air-conditioning. The use of air-conditioning reduces the risk for heatstroke and heat-related illness, even if it is available for only part of the day.
- Persons without home air conditioning should be encouraged and assisted in taking advantage of air-conditioned environments in private or public places such as libraries, shopping malls, theatres.
- Cities should monitor nursing homes and other similar facilities serving senior citizens, making sure air-conditioners are in working order. All nursing homes should have independent electricity-generating equipment on hand in case of long-term power outages.
- Cities should donate fans and air conditioners to the elderly, whenever necessary.
- Avoid physical activity, especially outside work and recreational activity.
** This warning taken from Journal of the American Medical Association, July 20, 1994, Vol. 272, No.3, p.197.For More on Global Warming
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