Extreme Heat Resources

PVPC has compiled list of recent resources that may be helpful to municipalities who want to help residents stay cool—and healthy–this summer. We will be updating these resources throughout the summer, so please check back for updated information.

Resources for residents

*These resources are specific to Pioneer Valley residents

Utility Costs and Air Conditioning

Community Action Agencies (Contact your local community action agency for information about utility bill assistance and/or free home energy improvements for low-income households):

• Springfield Partners for Community Action
• Valley Opportunity Council-all other munis in Hampden County
• Community Action of the Pioneer Valley
• Find other Community Action Agencies

Mass Save

• Programs for low-income eligible residents, including to swap out current AC or dehumidifiers for more efficient models
• Air Conditioner Rebate program
• Energy Saving Tips during COVID-19
• General Energy Saving Tips

Eversource

• New Start: Income-eligible utility bill forgiveness program
• Discounted electricity rates to income eligible participants

National Grid

• Utility Bill Forgiveness program
• Payment assistance and reduced electricity rates program

General Tips for Extreme Heat and Cooling (not COVID-19 related)

• Massachusetts Extreme Heat Safety Tips: General guidance around heat related illnesses
• CDC’s Extreme Heat Guidance: General guidance around heat related illnesses and specific guidance for vulnerable populations, includes template social media graphics and infographics

Resources for municipalities

1. Guidance from Department of Housing and Community Development:
   • Primarily focused on re-opening of offices, but has some guidance on affordable housing residents and preparing for heat, including recommendations to connect with municipal cooling centers and providing transportation and providing back-up AC for residents.
   • It details a funding source ($10k per LHA) that can be used to make their office space safer to reopen and at the end it includes some suggestions for cooling. Besides this funding source, the LHAs also have Formula Funding and/or Operating Reserves, which they can access for costs related to cooling projects.
   • Questions and additional requests for funding cooling equipment such as misters for exterior cooling should be sent to their DHCD Project Manager.
2. CDC Guidance for Administering Parks and Recreation: Includes recommendations for signage, keeping restrooms open, swimming pools, maintaining social distancing at parks etc…
3. Massachusetts EEA Guidance for Parks and Recreation: includes for swimming, pools, parks, slash pads/spray decks, and other outdoor recreation opportunities.
4. CDC Guidance on Cooling Centers:
   • For Federal, state, local, and tribal jurisdictions in the United States considering opening or operating cooling centers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
   • Includes screening people for symptoms, social distancing, air filtration, cleaning, communication, and PPE for people using the cooling center.

See What Other Municipalities are Doing

• City of Somerville “Keep Cool” webpage
• City of Boston “Keeping Cool in the Heat”

Stay Safe in High Heat

Hot and humid weather challenge your body’s ability to cool itself. You or someone you care about may experience a heat-related illness if you heat up too quickly, or if you lose too much fluid or salt through dehydration or sweating.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides a list of warning signs and symptoms of heat illness, and recommended first aid steps. Some of these symptoms and steps are listed below.

In an emergency, call 911: Always call 911 in a medical emergency, including heatstroke and heat exhaustion.

Heat Exhaustion

Symptoms:

• Heavy sweating
• Weakness
• Cold, pale, and clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fainting

What You Should Do

• Move to a cooler location.
• Lie down and loosen your clothing.
• Apply cool, wet cloths to as much of your body as possible.
• Sip water.
• If you have vomited and it continues, seek medical attention immediately.

Heat Stroke

Symptoms:

• High body temperature (above 103°F)
• Hot, red, dry or moist skin
• Rapid and strong pulse
• Possible unconsciousness

What You Should Do

• Call 911 immediately — this is a medical emergency.
• Move the person to a cooler environment.
• Reduce the person’s body temperature with cool cloths or even a bath.
• Do NOT give fluids

Source: The United States Centers for Disease Control

Call 211 for Emergency Relief Information

Mass 211 “connects callers to information about critical health and human services available in their community”. If you need information about cooling centers or other emergency relief, but you are not calling about a medical emergency, call 211.