City of New Orleans Launches Heat Relief Map Ahead of Anticipated Excessive Heat Warning

NEW ORLEANS — The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued another Heat Advisory in the New Orleans area for Thursday, June 15, from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.  The weather forecast indicates that high humidity levels will result in heat index values – that is, temperatures that “feel like” 105-110 degrees in New Orleans.  Temperatures are expected to rise throughout the week and over the holiday weekend, reaching a heat index as high as 115 degrees on Sunday, June 18 and Monday, June 19.

NOLA READY HEAT RELIEF MAP

In anticipation of continued heat advisories and excessive heat warnings throughout the summer, the City of New Orleans today launched the NOLA Ready Heat Relief Map, which can be found at https://ready.nola.gov.  This interactive map lists free, indoor air-conditioned locations for the general public.  Businesses or organizations that are willing to act as a free community cooling site should email ready@nola.gov with the address, dates, and hours to be added to the map.

Through Thursday, June 22^nd, individuals seeking shelter during the daytime may visit the following locations (which will all be closed on Monday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth unless otherwise stated):

• Louisiana SPCA is open Monday - Saturday, 12 pm - 7 pm (1700 Mardi Gras Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70114) -- LA SPCA will be open on Monday, June 19th)
• OHL Sobering Center is open 24/7 (732 N Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116)
• Arthur Monday Community Center is open Monday - Friday, 7 am – 4:30 pm (1111 Newton Street, Suite 101. New Orleans, LA 70114)
• Carrollton-Hollygrove Senior Center is open Monday - Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm (3300 Hamilton St., New Orleans, LA, 70118)
• Edna Pilsbury Center is open Monday - Friday, 8 am - 4 pm (2222 Simon Bolivar Ave, 2nd floor, New Orleans, LA, 70113)
• Algiers Courthouse is open Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 2:45 pm (225 Morgan Street, Room 209, New Orleans, LA 70114)
• All NORDC Recreation Centers will be open on Saturday, June 17, 10 am - 2 pm.
  • Rosenwald “Annex” Senior Building is open Monday - Friday, 9 am – 7 pm (1120 S. Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70125)
  • NORD Annunciation Center is open Monday – Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM (800 Race St, New Orleans, LA 70130)
• All New Orleans Public Library locations are open Monday – Thursday, 10 am - 7 pm and Friday – Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm, with the following exceptions:
  • Main Library is open Monday - Thursday, 10 am - 6 pm and Friday – Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm
  • Rosa Keller Library is closed due to facilities maintenance.
• For Unhoused Individuals:
  • Ozanam Inn has a cooling area from 5:30AM – 6:30PM daily (2239 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70119)
  • New Orleans Women & Children's Shelter will be open 9am-5pm, Friday-Monday, June 16-19^th.
  • The New Orleans Mission will open their Day Center as a cooling site and provide water 10 AM - 4 PM Thursday-Sunday, June 15-18^th.
  • Grace at the Greenlight will be open 6:30 AM - 7:15 AM daily and will have water on hand.

SUSPENSION OF SERVICE DISCONNECTIONS

Entergy New Orleans does not disconnect on days that the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, which is expected to last through June 20, 2023.  Residents can call 1-800-ENTERGY ¬to report outages. The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) will also suspend shut offs for delinquent accounts on Friday, June 16 through Monday, June 19 due to the Juneteenth holiday.  Please call 52-WATER to report any water or sewerage emergencies. 

SAFETY TIPS

These hot temperatures can become life-threatening if the proper precautions are not taken. Residents can visit weatherwise.nola.gov to find localized updates on weather conditions when considering outdoor activities.

Residents are advised to take the following precautions to prevent health emergencies due to overexposure to extreme heat:

• Stay indoors in air conditioning during the hottest parts of the day
• If you must perform outdoor activities, do so early in the morning or late in the evening
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing
• Avoid unnecessary exposure to the sun
• Be sure to drink plenty of water, and do not wait until you’re thirsty
• The very young, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, are at a greater risk for heat-related health issues and should take extra precautions to stay cool and hydrated
  • Check on neighbors, children, the elderly & chronically ill to make sure they are okay, especially every hour if power outages occur.

Children and pets should never be left unattended in a vehicle. Even in 70-degree weather, the interior temperature of a vehicle can increase rapidly to over 100 degrees in just 20 minutes. Cracking a window does not help. Leaving a child or pet unattended in a vehicle often leads to a life-threatening emergency. Anyone who sees a child or animal unattended in a vehicle is urged to call 9-1-1 immediately.

For more information about heat-related illnesses and tips on staying cool, please visit ready.nola.gov/

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