The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory between noon and 8 p.m. today. (Courtesy of NWS)

With heat index values slated to soar north of 100 degrees this afternoon, the D.C. government has activated its heat emergency plan for the first time this summer.

“What we’re advising residents to do is first to be mindful that extremely hot temperatures can be dangerous, in particular for the most vulnerable populations—our seniors, the homeless, and children,” says Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Director Christopher Rodriguez.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory between noon and 8 p.m. today, with temperatures in the mid 90s that feel as high as 104 degrees in the District.

When either the temperature or the heat index hits 95 degrees, the city enacts a series of measures to help residents keep cool, including activating more than 70 cooling centers throughout the city (see below for an interactive map and a full list). They will remain open until 6 p.m. or as soon as it is considered safe to return outside.

A shelter hotline is also now active at 202-399-7093; the city will dispatch help if you see someone in heat-related distress.

In addition, trash collection will take place an hour earlier than usual on Tuesday, June 19.

Rodriguez reminds residents to never leave children or pets in vehicles, and to generally limit exposure to the sun when possible. Residents can go to heat.dc.gov for more information, download the DC HSEMA app, or sign up to get text alerts.

It’s the first heat emergency of the season, Rodgriguez says, “but it probably won’t be the last.”

2018 Heat Emergency Plan: Facilities List by Rachel Sadon on Scribd