CHICAGO — Extreme heat is headed our way this weekend and Chicago emergency officials are making sure the city is prepared.
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) and department heads unveiled their extreme heat plan, including options for people without air conditioning.
The heat index is expected to reach 105 degrees on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect for all of Cook County from 10 a.m. Saturday through 12 a.m. Tuesday. A Heat Advisory is in place for everyone else for the same time frame.
Officials are especially concerned about senior citizen and people without air conditioning, which is about 11 percent of the city’s population.
“Chicago knows better than any other city in America the dangers of extreme weather, particularly extreme heat. In fact, we are one month away from the 30 year anniversary from the 1995 heat wave. The deadliest heat wave in American history,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said during a press conference Friday.
During the summer of 1995, more than 700 people died because of extreme heat, most of them were senior citizens.
These six community centers will be open in Chicago to serve as cooling shelters:
- Garfield Center – 10 South Kedzie Avenue, will be open Saturday and Sunday
Open Monday and Tuesday:
- Englewood Center – 1140 West 79th Street
- King Center – 4314 South Cottage Grove
- North Area Center – 845 West Wilson Avenue
- South Chicago Center – 8650 South Commercial Avenue
- Trina Davila Center – 4312 West North Avenue
Other cooling options include CPD district stations available 24/7, Chicago libraries, senior centers, park district facilities, city colleges and all 50 Chicago outdoor pools.
For forecast, emergency alerts, safety tips and cooling centers, stay up-to-date with the OEMC app or their social media pages.
Call 311 to request well-being checks on loved ones if can’t do it yourself. Call 911 in an emergency.
