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City prepares for possible heat crisis
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BALTIMORE
(Map, News)
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With temperatures in the low 90s in downtown Baltimore on Wednesday, Mayor Sheila Dixon met with city officials to review plans for a possible heat emergency.
“We can’t control the weather, but we can limit the toll extreme weather conditions take on our citizens,” Dixon said in a written statement issued soon after a meeting with the representatives of six city agencies, including the health department and department of housing. “Our cooling centers can and do save lives.”
Given the fact that temperatures were predicted to be in the 90s through Saturday, Dixon spokesman Anthony McCarthy said the mayor wanted to prepare.
“We were getting indications that there were going to be warm temperatures this weekend,” he said. “People have to be made aware of the resources available to them.”
Sixteen city residents died last year from heat-related causes, city officials said.
The city’s health department can declare a “code red” heat emergency if the National Weather Service issues a “heat advisory.”
During a code red, six cooling centers are opened throughout the city offering air conditioning and cold water.
The city’s Commission and Aging and Retirement may open cooling centers at four senior citizen centers, as well.
Police and health department officials will identify senior citizens or other people at risk and either visit or call.
The fire department will pass out tips on how to stay cool.
Residents can call 311 for more information on city cooling centers and other services available during prolonged periods of heat.
City Cooling Centers
» Eastern Community Action Center — 1400 Orleans St.
» Northern Community Action Center— 5225 York Road
» Southern Community Action Center — 606 Cherry Hill Road est
» Community Action Center — 3314 Ayrdale Ave.
» Western Community Action Center — 1133 Pennsylvania Ave.
» Southeastern Community Action Center — 3411 Bank St.
The Commission on Aging and Retirement Education may open:
» Waxter Senior Center — 1000 Cathedral St.
» Oliver Senior Center — 1700 Gay St.
» Sandtown-Winchester Senior Center — 1601 Baker St.
» Hatton Senior Center — 2825 Fait Ave.
Each center will offer air-conditioned space and cold water.
sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
4:08 PM MST on Mon., Jul. 7, 2008 re: "High temperatures expected to last throughout the week"
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12:35 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 13, 2008
re: "Storm leaves thousands without power, closes several schools in Baltimore area"
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6:05 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 5, 2008
re: "Heavy rain, winds leave thousands without power"
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6:29 PM MST on Tue., May. 13, 2008
re: "O’Malley turns weatherman after emergency briefing"
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10:08 AM MST on Tue., May. 13, 2008
re: "O’Malley turns weatherman after emergency briefing"
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4:27 AM MST on Tue., May. 13, 2008
re: "O’Malley turns weatherman after emergency briefing"
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7:55 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008
re: "Va. to scrutinize ice-clearing strategy after icy highways overwhelm crews"
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4:37 PM MST on Thu., Feb. 14, 2008
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7:37 PM MST on Fri., Feb. 1, 2008
re: "Today's weather: More of the same"
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4:20 AM MST on Tue., Jan. 22, 2008
re: "Baltimore braces as forecasters predict prolonged cold weather"
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9:51 AM MST on Fri., Jan. 4, 2008
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MrHyphy said:
Time to chill on the block with a tank top yadadafeel me?
5 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Was the tree in the picture cut down? There is no breakage on the tree and looks like it was taken down by a chain saw.
6 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Let's not forget those of us that were stranded because MTA doesn't have a proper back up plan for light rail interuptions. Dozens of people waited for their chance to crowd onto a shuttle bus, maybe 3 showed up in the hour i waited. When lodging a complaint, the MTA rep. said they do not plan for these things. REALLY? you should always plan for how to get around an interuption in the line. But then again, its the MTA! BTW, what the hell does O'Malley ahve to do with the weather? Everyone seems to be all up in arms about relating him to the storm damage. It's an act of nature, or as some might say, an act of GOD lol. if so, GOD does not seem to be happy with those that are close minded lately.
9 agree | 8 disagree
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Steven Lessner said:
O'malley,busch,and miller would all be typical weatherman where they could lie to the public.Between the state liars and shelia dixon and her corrupt adminstration it's a race to see who can steal more tax dollars. Dixon's adminstration does a pretty good job of stealing since most of her people are black.Instead of giving a tax break she wants to give raises to her people while other people in the private sector are losing their jobs let's give raises and screw the people in the city. Dixon doesn't care about the city of baltimore, one of the most violent in the country.Just as O'Malley could care less about Maryland,this is not the "FREE STATE" anymore it's should be renamed the expensive state that has the most laws in the nation.
8 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
O'Malley would make a better weather man than he is a politician. He could lie about the weather and blame it on Bob Ehrlich and global warming.
9 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Had it not been for global warming there would be 40 inches of snow laying on the ground right now with many people losing thier lives!
7 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Was the issue with VDOT and /or the lack of the national /local reporting
147 agree | 169 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Virginia definitely doesn't know how to handle this type of weather, let alone do Virginia drivers know how to drive. Being from Indiana, it cracks me up to see places of business closing down because the weather report says there's a chance of snow. People need to slow down and remember what driver's ed taught them, it'll save lives.
154 agree | 160 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Cabin fever!!!
156 agree | 129 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The problem is that Virginia does not know how to handle winter weather. It's not just highways. "It was a perfect storm at a perfect time..."? Gimme a break. Just own up to not having enough DOT trucks, and to not having an efficient plan when snow/ice falls. There certainly are plenty of other states that deal with snow/ice every year, yet they don't seem to have these issues. It's amazing really.
161 agree | 155 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
ok
177 agree | 184 disagree
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Tinker said:
Just think how much colder it would be if "AL" had not invented global warming!
197 agree | 171 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Actually, there was also a 7:05 ferry from Oakland to SF that I was on - what a wild ride!
225 agree | 208 disagree
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