Heat Advisory

The District will activate its Heat Emergency Plan today, June 26, at 12 noon as temperatures are expected to reach 95 degrees.

The City will operate four cooling centers from 12 pm to 6 pm at the following locations:

- Frank Reeves Municipal Center, 2000 14th Street, NW
- Judiciary Square, 441 Fourth Street, NW
- Virginia Williams Center, 920 Rhode Island Avenue, NE
- King Office Building, 3720 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE

Residents are urged to remain indoors if at all possible. If they must go outside, they should limit exposure to the sun, wear light-colored, lightweight and loose fitting clothes and drink plenty of water.

In an Emergency, Would You Know How to Evacuate?

For many D.C. residents and commuters, the answer is no. But if evacuation orders were given, precious time could be wasted if you are not aware of the evacuation routes nearest you.

In the District, there are 19 evacuation/event routes that are identified by the stars and bars symbol on street signs. Visit 72hours.dc.gov and click “Find my route” at the top of the page to locate the evacuation route nearest you.

Below is the list of primary event routes.

1) 16th St. NW
2) Georgia Ave. (7th St.) NW
3) Rhode Island Ave. NE
4) New York Ave. NE
5) Benning Rd. NE (via H St. NE and E. Capitol St. SE)
6) Pennsylvania Ave. SE
7) Branch Ave. SE
8) Pennsylvania Ave. NW/3rd St./Independence Ave./Washington Ave. SW/ S. Capitol St./Suitland Pkwy.
9) 9th St. NW
10) 14th St. NW
11) Interstate 395/295
12) Constitution Ave. NW
13) E St. Expressway
14) K St. NW
15) Pennsylvania Ave. NW/M St. NW
16) Macarthur Blvd. NW
17) Canal Rd. NW
18) Wisconsin Ave. NW
19) Connecticut Ave. NW

Have a question, comment, or suggestion? Feel free to leave a comment under this topic.

June 21-22 Weekend Events

Saturday, June 21, 2008

National Capital Barbeque Battle
Time: 1100 - 2100 hours
Location: Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 9th and 14th Streets; 10th and 12th, NW between E Street and Constitution Avenue; 11th and 13th Streets, NW between E Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
Contact: National Capital Barbecue Battle (202) 828-3099; www.bbqdc.com
Purpose: A barbecue cook-off event benefiting the Metropolitan Police Boys & Girls Club and numerous District charities.


NCEC Community Day
Time: 1100 - 1700 hours
Location: 400 block of O Street, NW
Contact: New Covenant Evangelistic Center Community Day; (202) 588-8484
Purpose: An event ministering to the needs of our neighboring community by providing outreach services, health and safety information, clothing, food, activities and entertainment.


Sunday, June 22, 2008

National Capital Barbeque Battle
Time: 1100 - 1930 hours
Location: Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 9th and 14th Streets; 10th and 12th, NW between E Street and Constitution Avenue; 11th and 13th Streets, NW between E Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
Contact: National Capital Barbecue Battle (202) 828-3099; www.bbqdc.com
Purpose: A barbecue cook-off event benefiting the Metropolitan Police Boys & Girls Club and numerous District charities.

Weekend Special Events

HSEMA gears up for several special events happening in the District this weekend. Below is the list of events.

Saturday, June 14th, 2008

Lawyer’s Have Heart 5K
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Beginning and ending at 31st and K Streets, NW
Contact: Lawyers Have Heart (703) 248-1710; http://www.runlhh.org/
Purpose: A run/walk event benefiting the American Heart Association incorporating physical
activity, community involvement, and personal giving to fight the nation’s number one and number three killers—cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Peace in the Streets Bike Ride
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Beginning and ending at 5110 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE; with stop for
prayer at Freedom Plaza
Contact: Holy Christian Missionary Baptist Church (202) 396-7700
Purpose: A collaboration of events promoting peace for all people.

Peace in the Streets Festival
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE, between Hayes Street and Division Avenue
Contact: Holy Christian Missionary Baptist Church (202) 396-7700
Purpose: A collaboration of events promoting peace for all people.

Peace in the Streets Parade
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Beginning and ending at 5110 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE; Ending at 5110
Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE
Contact: Holy Christian Missionary Baptist Church (202) 396-7700
Purpose: A collaboration of events promoting peace for all people.

Hoop Dreams
Time: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Location: Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 3rd and 6th Streets; Constitution Avenue, NW between 3rd and 6th Streets
Contact: Hoop Dream Scholarship Fund (202) 446-8938; http://www.hoopdreams.org/
Purpose: A 3-on-3 basketball tournament aimed to raise funds and awareness in support of the organization’s mission.

Team DC Sport Pride Fest
Time: 4:00 – 10:00 pm
Location: 1700 block of Church Street, NW
Contact: Team DC (703) 861-8135; http://www.teamdc.org/
Purpose: A sports event which promotes local GLBT sport clubs and helps raise money for three primary projects of the organization.

233rd Army Birthday Ball
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: Washington Convention Center
Contact: David Grothaus (703) 614-5094; www.army.mil/birthday/233/
Purpose: A celebration marking the 233rd anniversary of the establishment of the Army.

Capital Pride Parade
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Beginning at Francis Jr. High School, 24th and N Streets NW; Ending at 14th Street and Thomas Circle NW
Contact: Capital Pride (202) 797-4458; http://www.capitalpride.org/
Purpose: A celebration of the Washington, DC Metro area lesbian, gay, and transgender community and its friends and allies.


Sunday, June 15th, 2008

Capital Pride Festival
Time: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: Pennsylvania Avenue NW between Constitution Avenue and C Street; Constitution Avenue NW between Pennsylvania Avenue and 3rd Street
Contact: Capital Pride (202) 797-4458; http://www.capitalpride.org/
Purpose: A celebration of the Washington, DC Metro area lesbian, gay, and transgender community and its friends and allies.

District Issues Protective Actions for Extreme Heat

In the District, the heat emergency plan is activated 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.

In general, you should know the difference between an advisory and a warning. An excessive heat ADVISORY means that extreme heat is likely and an excessive heat WARNING means that extreme heat is likely and can pose a threat to life if proper precautions are not taken.

In the event of extreme heat, you should take the following precautions:
· Stay indoors as much as possible.
· Turn on the air-conditioner or fan.
· DO NOT leave children or pets in vehicles.
· Drink plenty of water.
· Wear light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.
· Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside (SPF 15-30 is best).
· Limit exposure to the sun (the sun is most powerful between 10 am and 3 pm).
· Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
· If you do not have access to a cool-temperature location, visit one of the District’s “Cooling Centers” located throughout the city.