Queens residents trying to beat the heat of this week’s heat wave can head to a Salvation Army’s cooling center, which has several locations around the borough.
The cooling centers will be activated from today until Friday, June 21, to provide relief for residents without air conditioning who are vulnerable to the heat.
Zack Hodgson, emergency services director at The Salvation Army, shared tips for residents to keep themselves safe as the temperature rises. “With the heat wave approaching New York City, vulnerable populations need to exercise caution and seek cooling centers if they don’t have adequate air conditioning at home,” Hodgson said. “Be sure to check in on any vulnerable neighbors who may not be able to care for themselves. Stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and use public cooling centers when necessary.”
NYC 311 states that during excessive heat, air conditioning can keep residents safe. Residents who don’t have access to air conditioning are advised to head to a friend or neighbor’s house, mall, museum, coffee shop, library, or cooling center.
New York City opens cooling centers when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory with a forecasted heat index of 95 degrees or higher for two or more days or 100 degrees for any period of time.
During this week, residents who are with family members and vulnerable loved ones- including elderly individuals- should look for signs of heat illness. Serious signs of heat illness include hot, dry skin, or cold, clammy skin, confusion, disorientation, weakness, a rapid pulse, and unconsciousness or unresponsiveness. Heat illness occurs when the body cannot adequately cool down. The most serious forms of heat illness are heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Below is a list of Salvation Army cooling centers in Queens and their dates and times of operation:
Ridgewood Citadel Corps Community Center
69-23 Cypress Hills St, Flushing, NY 11385
6/18, 6/20 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m
Queens Temple Corps Community Center
86-07 35th Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
6/20, 6/21 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00p.m
Astoria Corps Community Center
45-18 Broadway, Long Island City, NY 11103
6/18, 6/20 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Jamaica Citadel Corps Community Center
9023 161st St, Jamaica, NY 11432
6/18, 6/20, 6/21 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
