Summer Heat in the City
New Yorkers know that summertime in
the City can be stifling, hot and humid. For
older New Yorkers, extreme heat is not only
uncomfortable, it can be dangerous and
cause heat illness and death. Each year, more
Americans die from heat waves than all other
natural disasters combined.
The same older adults who are vulnerable
to extreme heat, are most vulnerable to
COVID-19. The best way for older adults to
be safe from extreme heat is to drink plenty
of water and stay inside in a cool place. And
while opening windows can help increase
airflow, using an air conditioning unit is the
best way to stay cool while at home. In New
York City, more than 80% of heat stroke deaths
in recent years involved victims who were
exposed to extreme heat in homes without
air conditioning.
For many New Yorkers, the high cost of an
air conditioning unit makes it inaccessible,
especially now given the financial hardship
that has accompanied COVID-19. To help
older New Yorkers stay cool and safe from
COVID-19, the NYC Department for the
Aging is working with the City’s GetCool Air
Conditioner Program to provide 74,000 free
air conditioners and installation service to
low-income older adults.
So far, more than 48,000 of these air
conditioners have been installed. Thanks to
these air conditioners, many older adults can
now stay cool in their homes this summer
Older New Yorkers find respite from
the heat at Grand Street Settlement
Neighborhood Senior Center when open as
a cooling center.
and will be able to use these units in future
hot summers.
In addition to the GetCool Air Conditioner
Program, New York State’s Cooling Assistance
program, called HEAP, can also help. The
program covers the cost of an air conditioner
or a fan, plus installation, at a price of up to
$800. Applications are currently open through
August 30. New Yorkers can call 311 for
eligibility requirements and for information
on how to apply.
For New Yorkers who do not have airconditioning,
the City has more than 230
public cooling centers across the five boroughs.
Cooling centers have been an important
resource during heat emergencies every
year. This year due to COVID-19, the City is
taking extra steps at cooling centers to protect
New Yorkers from getting sick. All cooling
centers are operating at limited capacity and
following social distancing guidelines. They
are also providing hand sanitizer and free face
coverings to attendees. Because cooling centers
are an important resource for older New
Yorkers, some senior centers in our network
have been operating as cooling centers during
heat emergencies. As an extra safety measure,
cooling centers at senior center locations are
open exclusively to adults over the age of 60.
I myself have visited a few cooling centers at
our senior center sites and can vouch that while
there are no social activities being offered, like
board games and congregate meals, they do
provide safe and cool respite from the heat. At
many, the main, congregate room is filled by
chairs arranged at six feet, or more, apart and all
attendees keep their face masks on while inside. It
is not the same senior center experience that we
know and love, but during these unprecedented
times, it is the safest option for older adults.
Though the City has many ways to help older
New Yorkers stay cool and safe, nothing can
replace the value of a friendly check-in by a
neighbor, family member, or a friend. A quick
call to make sure that an older adult in your
life has the resources to stay cool this summer
could save a life. This summer, we want older
New Yorkers to be safe from both COVID-19
and extreme heat. By using all available City
resources and staying connected with each
other, we can make sure this happens.
For more information on how to beat the
heat this summer, visit nyc.gov/beattheheat
or call 311.
NYC Department for the
Aging Commissioner
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
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Presented by:
Schneps Media August 6, 2020 9
/beattheheat
