(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia government will implement its multi-agency heat emergency plan in response to the 104 degree heat index forecast for today by the National Weather Service. The city’s heat plan is implemented when the heat index (an accurate measure of how hot it really feels when the effects of humidity are added to the high temperatures) reaches 95 degrees.

DC Emergency Management Agency Director Barbara Childs-Pair, coordinator of the District’s heat plan, said the District will open cooling centers today, at noon, at four locations: 441 4th Street, NW (One Judiciary Square); 2000 14th Street, NW (Reeves Municipal Center); 3720 Martin Luther King Jr, Avenue, SE; and 25 M Street, SW. Additionally, she said all emergency homeless facilities will be open today as cooling centers and the United Planning Organization will provide water throughout the day for persons staying on the street.

Street showers will be operated from noon to 7 pm at three DC Housing Authority locations: Hopkins Apartments, 1000 12th Street and 1450 L Street, SE; Park Morton, 620 Morton Street, NW; and Benning Terrace, 605 46th Place, SE; and one public location at 21st Street and Maryland Avenue, NE. The DC Department of Parks and Recreation will operate swimming pools from 12 noon until 8 pm.

In response to the Code Red Alert issued by the Council of Governments (COG) the city’s motor vehicle inspection station located at 1001 Half Street, SW, will be open from 5 am until 1 pm today and tomorrow, July 19.

Mrs. Childs-Pair said the very young and the very old are at greatest risk during heat emergencies. Persons with compromised immune systems and individuals who take certain types of medication should also exercise caution. The heat emergency plan is designed to provide relief to these most vulnerable segments of our population. Mrs. Childs-Pair cautioned pet owners to exercise caution with their pets, as well. She said pets should not be locked in parked cars nor left outside for extended periods of time.