STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN
TINA MOLÉ
REGARDING EXCESSIVE HEAT
Delaware County Board of Supervisors
DELAWARE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Senator Charles D. Cook County Office Building
111 Main Street, Suite 1
Delhi, New York 13753
Telephone: 607-832-5110
Tina B. Molé, Chairman
Penny Bishop, Clerk
June 17, 2024
STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN TINA MOLÉ
DELAWARE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Delaware County will experience excessive and unusual heat over the next week. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in conjunction with the National Weather Service (NWS) has developed an interactive tool to monitor heat risk using a scale of 0-4 with a score of 4 indicating extreme heat. Over the next week we will experience several days of heat indexes ranging from 2 (moderate) to 4 (extreme), with the hottest days predicted Wednesday 6/19 through Friday 6/21.
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk
This heat wave has the potential to cause heat related illness or even death if people do not take proper precautions. The Center for Disease Control recommends the following safety tips to avoid health related impacts associated with excessive heat:
- Wear sunscreen. Take precautions to prevent sunburn, which can make you dehydrated and affect your ability to cool down. This includes staying in shaded areas, wear a hat to shade your face and limit the amount of time you spend in direct sun.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid sugary, caffeinated or alcoholic drinks that may further dehydrate you. If you are sweating a lot combine water with snacks or a sports drink to replace salt and minerals your body needs.
- Limit time outside. If you are feeling the effects of heat exhaustion immediately find an air conditioned or cooled location to rest and recover. If you are working outside
take a break every hour either in the shade or if possible in an air-conditioned space
and consume at least eight ounces of water every hour. - Check the car. Never leave children or animals in a car for any period. When it is 90
degrees outside it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of the car to reach 109 degrees
and in 30 minutes the temperature in the car will exceed 120 degrees. - Monitor high-risk loved ones, neighbors and friends, especially if they are not in an
air-conditioned space. Vulnerable populations that may experience heat related
illnesses should be checked on to be sure they are ok. If any signs of illness are present
please call 911 for assistance immediately or take the person to the emergency room
for proper medical care. - Watch for signs of illness. Heat related illness can become life threatening if not taken
care of. If you are experiencing general weakness, dehydration, excessive sweating,
headache, muscle cramps or spasms, dizziness, mental confusion, fatigue, erratic
behavior, nausea and/or vomiting, fast heart rate, fast or weakened pulse, or fainting
take a break from the heat, drink fluids and seek help. Some health conditions, such
as diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, can increase the risk of heat-related
illness.
Delaware County has several public libraries that serve as cooling centers and can be visited
to find relief from the heat while you read a great book. In observance of Juneteenth some
libraries will be closed on Wednesday June 19th, so please call ahead to make sure they are
open. You can also visit some local parks or swimming pools which may provide some relief.
Please take care to watch yourself and your neighbors over the next few days. Delaware
County Emergency Services will continue monitoring the conditions with help from the NWS
and NY Department of Homeland Security. We will provide additional information as it
becomes available to us to keep all Delaware County residents safe. For additional information
regarding heat related illness please follow the Delaware County Public Health Facebook and
Instagram pages where helpful information is being posted.
