PLAN AHEAD for Extreme Heat 

Take  time beforehand to think through all  the effects of Extreme Heat. 

Planning Ahead reduces your stress level and you will be able to keep calm.  That in turn will help your person.  See Stormy Weather Part 1 and 2 to see what happens if you have half a plan!

Take heat seriously. 

Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. In extreme heat your body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature, which can lead to death. Extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards.  Older adults, children and people with certain illnesses and chronic conditions are at greater risk from extreme heat.  Humidity increases the feeling of heat. 

Follow your local weather forecasts for information.

1. Excessive Heat Outlook means that the potential exists for an excessive heat event in the next 3-7 days.
2. Excessive Heat Watch is an alert that means conditions are favorable for an excessive heat event in the next 24-72 hours.
3. Excessive Heat Warning/Advisory is an alert issued within 12 hours of the beginning of an extreme heat event.

Preparing your home for extreme or high heat requires many of the same initial precautions as preparing for extreme cold, such as weather stripping, caulking gaps and air leaks, replacing filters.  If you live where you have both extreme heat and cold, you may have taken care of many readiness chores.  Cold seems to be more motivating as people tend to want to avoid cold more, but both conditions are dangerous! 

As with any weather related emergency, be prepared for blackouts because of damaged or overloaded electrical grids. Fully charge phones and keep flashlights handy. Post emergency contacts on or near your loved one’s phone or fridge.

Prepare and Act

It’s both important to prepare for extreme heat and to remain safe during hot weather. This section provides information on what to do before extreme heat events.   Ready.gov says:

• Prepare window reflectors, such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
• Weather-strip doors and windows.
• If you have window air conditioners or are installing them, make sure the area around them is sealed or insulated.

 A more comprehensive list is found  at the National Center for Healthy Housing .

Plan in Advance How to Keep Cool

“There are several things you can do to keep your home cool during extreme heat in addition to running your air conditioning and/or if you don’t have air conditioning in your home.

          >Increase Air Movement

Stagnant or stuffy air contributes to heat and also can worsen indoor air quality by allowing pollutants to build up in a room. Here   are two ways to combat heat:

• Create a wind chill effect by blowing air on skin to cool down. Note that when the temperature is in the high 90s, this will not prevent heat-related illness.
• Help to ventilate a room. If the outdoor air is cooler than the indoor air, you can use fans to blow hot air out of the home. This can be true particularly at night when temperatures are cooler.

You can also use fans to create air movement. There are a few types of fans that can be helpful:

• Ceiling fans should be set to rotate counter-clockwise during the summer. This pushes air downward and creates air movement that cools the body. (If you’re trying to create air movement in the winter without cooling the room down and feeling the draft, you can run a ceiling fan clockwise.)
• Box fans can be a less expensive option and offer the additional benefit of portability.

        >Humid air feels warmer than dry air.

If your area is experiencing humid heat, and you don’t have air conditioning, using a dehumidifier can help. In dry climates, evaporative (swamp) coolers are used for the opposite effect, to add moisture to the air.

     >Reduce Radiant Temperatures 

Lessen the heat that enters your home from outside and the amount of heat created within.

• Block sunlight by covering windows during the day.
• Avoid using appliances that generate heat. This includes ovens and stoves.
• Keep the refrigerator doors closed. Rather than introducing cool air into the room, leaving your refrigerator door open will make your house hotter as the refrigerator works to create more cool air.

Ventilation  is important in keeping  indoor air safe and addressing pollutants and hazards.

If your area is experiencing poor air quality in conjunction with high heat (such as from a wildfire) it’s important to know how to protect your indoor air as well as lower the temperature, especially if you don’t have air conditioning. For more information on ventilation and filtration when air quality has been compromised , visit the following National Center for Healthy Homes resources:

• The Ventilation section of Healthy Homes Guide to Cleaning and Disinfection includes information on how to improve ventilation in your home.
• The video, Healthy Housing 101: Ventilation, provides an introduction to how ventilation works in a home.
• The During the Fire section of the Wildfires resource library provides resources on how to protect your home from wildfire smoke.   

Plan in Advance How to Keep Cool

Know where to cool down if you do not have air conditioning or you  are concerned about staying at home. Call your city’s emergency management or health department to find a cooling center nearby.  A list of state agencies is found here.  

Cooling centers are an important resource during extreme heat events and are especially critical for homeless individuals or those without adequate cooling in their homes. Finding and accessing resources for cooling centers differs at the state and county level. Local cooling centers  are often located in libraries, senior centers, or community buildings.

 Generally, contacting your state’s United Way 2-1-1 phone number and checking local news outlets are good ways of finding cooling centers. Visiting the website or calling a state’s 2-1-1 can connect individuals with resources for extreme heat, such as the location of extreme heat cooling programs. This information is sometimes located at the county or city level. Select local cooling centers may also open temporarily for extreme heat events. Information on these centers can often be found through local news sources.

Energy, Weatherization, and Funding Resources

There are often resources available to help low-income consumers and families weatherize homes and pay for increased energy costs:

• The LIHEAP program will provide assistance with energy bills, allowing families to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  Information on Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program here
• Local weatherization programs provide free services to improve homes and make them more energy efficient. This may include repair or installing air conditioning units. Utilities may also provide these services.

See also:  What to Do in a Heat Wave and No Air Conditioning          Caregivers and Heat Waves