Dangerous temperatures prompt Excessive Heat Warning; take action now

Published on September 06, 2022

Menlo Park, Calif. — The National Weather Service has upgraded the heat advisory to an Excessive Heat Warning through 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 6. A Heat Advisory then remains in effect through 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 8. Take heat safety precautions now. Designated cooling centers are open daily.

Extremely hot weather can result in heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn, heat rash, and in some instances death. Please take safety measures to stay safe and lend a helping hand to family, friends and neighbors.

If you know of a vulnerable person without air conditioning, such as an elderly or infirm neighbor or someone with a drug or alcohol disorder or severe mental illness, please help them get to an air conditioned space between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

If you see someone on the street who may be having a life-threatening reaction to the heat, please call 911.

Thank you for doing your part to keep people safe during a heat crisis.

How to stay safe during excessive heat events

Get additional heat safety tips online at menlopark.org/heat.

Outdoor activities

• Slow down. Reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Those particularly vulnerable to heat such as children, infants, older adults (especially those who have preexisting diseases, take certain medications, living alone or with limited mobility), those with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
• Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, loose fitting, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
• Minimize direct exposure to the sun. Sunburn reduces your body's ability to dissipate heat.

Eating and drinking

• Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads. If you pack food, put it in a cooler or carry an ice pack. Don't leave it sitting in the sun. Meats and dairy products can spoil quickly in hot weather.
• Drink plenty of water (not very cold), nonalcoholic and decaffeinated fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty. If you are on a fluid-restrictive diet or have a problem with fluid retention, consult a physician before increasing consumption of fluids. 
• Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.

Cooling down

• Use air conditioners or spend time in air-conditioned locations such as designated cooling centers, malls and libraries.
• Use portable electric fans to exhaust hot air from rooms or draw in cooler air.
• Do not direct the flow of portable electric fans toward yourself when room temperature is hotter than 90°F. The dry blowing air will dehydrate you faster, endangering your health.
• Take a cool bath or shower.

Check on others

• Check on older, sick or frail people who may need help responding to the heat. Each year, dozens of children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia. Keep your children, disabled adults and pets safe during tumultuous heat waves.
• Don't leave valuable electronic equipment, such as cell phones and GPS units, sitting in hot cars.
• Make sure rooms are well vented if you are using volatile chemicals.
• For more heat health tips, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Cooling centers

Menlo Park has air-conditioned facilities where you can escape the heat. This always includes both libraries and recreation center facilities during regular operating hours and during designated cooling center hours:

Flex Alert extended; rotating outages possible

The California Independent System Operator has issued an additional statewide Flex Alert, calling for voluntary electricity conservation for Tuesday, Sept. 6, from 4–10 p.m., due to increasing high heat, tightening energy supplies and more potential strain on the grid.

When the grid is stressed, the ISO will issue a Flex Alert, and Californians are strongly urged to lower electricity use by setting thermostats to 78 or higher, health permitting, avoid using major appliances, and turning off all unnecessary lights. Energy conservation during Flex Alerts is key to protecting grid reliability and preventing rotating outages. Check out other ways to save energy. 

To minimize discomfort and help with grid stability, consumers are encouraged to pre-cool their homes and use major appliances before 4 p.m., when solar energy is typically abundant.

This Flex Alert is the latest consecutive call for conservation, as much of the state remains gripped in a dangerous heat wave. Sign up to receive Flex Alert notifications. 

Due to the possible shortfall of energy to power California’s energy grid, CAISO may require rolling outages across the state to alleviate pressure on the grid. All PG&E customers have an assigned an outage block number, which is included on their monthly bill and can be found at pge.com/rotatingoutages.

PG&E has already initiated the notification process for some parts of the Bay Area. Whether you have received this notice or not, it is important that all residents participate in the Flex Alert to help reduce the demand on the grid. Additionally, all residents should be prepared for possible loss of power.

If the power goes out at your residence, you can expect it to be out for about two hours.

For tips of what to do before and during a power outage visit menlopark.org/poweroutage.

Get the latest information

Check out the National Weather Service’s San Francisco Bay Area / Monterey, CA local forecast office for the latest weather alerts.

Download the Simplicity app for local news and updates, and follow the City of Menlo Park on Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor.

Contact: Public Engagement Manager Clay Curtin

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