Dear Community Partner,

 

As a historic heat wave begins today and continues into the holiday weekend, we would like to notify you of emergency heat measures to protect New Yorkers. We encourage you to share Mayor Mamdani's video PSA urging every New Yorker to make a heat plan, check on neighbors and loved ones, and take advantage of the resources available across the five boroughs. 

 

To keep people safe in temperatures that may feel as hot as 112 degrees, the following measure have been taken to provide New Yorkers with relief:

 

Cooling Centers 

 

The City has activated hundreds of cooling centers to provide free, public air-conditioned spaces to New Yorkers. For the latest and most up-to-date information on locations and operating hours throughout the weekend, including accessible and pet-friendly options, please visit finder.nyc.gov/coolingcenters/ or call 311. Service animals are always allowed.

 

In response to the historic, sustained heat and holiday weekend, additional locations have been converted to cooling centers from July 3 through July 5, including:

• Four Brooklyn Public Library branches: Central Library; Brighton Beach Library; Saratoga Library; Sunset Park Library.

• Three additional New York Public Library branches: Grand Concourse Library in the Bronx; Countee Cullen Library in Manhattan; Port Richmond Library on Staten Island.

• Three Queens Public Library branches: Central Library; Jackson Heights; Far Rockaway.

• Eight additional DCAS facilities: The David N. Dinkins Municipal Building, 22 Reade Street and 100 Gold Senior Center in Manhattan; Brooklyn Borough Hall and NYCEM Headquarters in Brooklyn; The Bergen Building in the Bronx; Queens Borough Hall in Queens; and Staten Island Borough Hall on Staten Island.

• Three Neighborhood Health Action Centers

• The Javits Center

More than 2,200 LinkNYC Kiosks have been activated to display real-time walking directions to the nearest NYC Cooling Center within a 10-minute walk. 

 

Outdoor Pools and Spray Showers

 

The City’s roughly 50 outdoor pools are free and open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. During the heat emergency, Olympic- and intermediate-sized pools will be open until 8:30 p.m. — a half hour longer than prior heat wave extensions and 1.5 hours later than normal operating days. 

 

New Yorkers can find additional relief at outdoor cool options like spray showers by visiting on.nyc.gov/CoolItNYC. 

 

Public Beaches and Local Firehouses

 

Public beaches are free and open daily with lifeguards on duty between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Swimming in restricted areas or when a lifeguard is not on duty is prohibited and very dangerous.

 

Local firehouses will distribute free spray caps to adults 18 and older to turn fire hydrants into sprinklers.

 

Deploying COOL Vans & Performing In-Home Wellness Checks for Older Adults

 

The City has mobilized 21 Cooling Outreach On-Location (COOL) vans to provide New Yorkers with wellness checks; medical care; resources like electrolytes and sunscreen; meals including vegetarian, kosher and halal options; and transport to cooling centers or healthcare facilities. COOL vans are operated by NYC Health + Hospitals and staffed by medical providers who will also be checking in on older adults in their homes to provide them with relief from the heat.

 

Intensifying Street Outreach

 

The City will intensify street canvassing and outreach under Code Red from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. during all heat advisory days to connect homeless neighbors to shelter, cooling centers, and essential supplies.

 

Shelter is available system-wide to anyone experiencing homelessness, and walk-ins are welcome.

 

Anyone who sees a person experiencing homelessness who may need assistance is encouraged to call 311.

 

Safeguarding Workers’ Health and Safety

 

The City is deploying pop-up outdoor cooling stations with water, misting fans, and cooling towels for outdoor workers including street vendors, deliveristas, and day laborers. The initiative expands last year’s pilot of two pop-up cooling stations to seven through partnerships with community-based organizations.

 

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) as well as the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) are contacting more than 75,000 businesses to encourage heat illness plans and remind workers that they can use Protected Time Off for heat-related health issues.

 

Protecting Energy Grid Reliability

 

The City is asking every business and every New Yorker to do their part in protecting energy grid reliability by setting their thermostats to 78 degrees and holding off on running major appliances until early morning or late at night. The City has also worked with the Times Square Alliance to request sign operators to lower energy consumption by reducing brightness.

 

Health and Safety Guidance

 

New Yorkers are urged to stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during peak heat hours, and seek air-conditioned spaces whenever possible.

 

Residents should check on vulnerable neighbors — especially older adults, people with disabilities, and people with chronic illnesses — and loved ones, recognize the warning signs of heat illness, and help others who may be at greater risk.

 

Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know has hot, dry skin, trouble breathing, rapid heartbeat, confusion, disorientation, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Never leave children, adults, or pets in cars.

 

Stay informed by signing up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency communications program, by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692 and visiting nyc.gov/beattheheat for more health and safety guidance.

 

Independence Day Office Closures

In observance of Independence Day, we would also like to remind you that all HRA locations will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026. This includes all SNAP and Benefit Access Centers as well as Medicaid, Child Support, and CASA offices. HRA locations will resume regular operating hours on Monday, July 6, 2026.

 

Thank you for your ongoing partnership, and for all that you do every day to help New Yorkers in need.

 

Sincerely,