Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Emergency Management on Monday activated the city\u2019s heat emergency plan, which includes opening cooling centers, ramping up outreach to vulnerable populations and coordinating with utilities and healthcare providers.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust as New Yorkers look out for one another through the coldest days of winter, we must do the same through the hottest days of the year,\u201d Mamdani said, in a statement. \u201cCity workers will be out across all five boroughs welcoming neighbors to cooling centers and helping our neighbors stay safe in extreme heat. I urge every New Yorker to plan ahead, stay hydrated, check in on loved ones and take this heat seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"mamdani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/55114599608_c97af67e8d_k.jpg\")
Mamdani (second from right) and OEM Commisioner Christina Farrell (third from right) at a press conference earlier this year. Photo courtesy of Ed Reed\/Mayoral Photography Office<\/p>\n
Officials said that most heat-related deaths are caused by long periods indoors without air conditioning, and the NWS agrees that homes without air conditioners \u201ccan be much hotter than outdoor temperatures.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
NYCEM Commisioner Christina Farrell warned that New Yorkers may not be prepared for such dangerously hot weather<\/a> so early in the year \u2014 temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday will hover around 30 degrees above average \u2014 and she encouraged residents to stay indoors, check on their neighbors, and subscribe to the city\u2019s updates via NotifyNYC.\u00a0<\/p>\n Seniors and people with chronic health conditions are most vulnerable to heat-related illness and death, per the NWS.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe best way to prevent heat-related illness is to remain in a cool, air-conditioned environment \u2014 a fan alone isn\u2019t enough,\u201d said Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. \u201cIf you do plan to be outside, stay in the shade, drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks as needed. Pay attention to your body and watch for signs of heat stroke, such as difficulty breathing or a rapid heartbeat. I want all New Yorkers to enjoy themselves safely.\u201d<\/p>\n The Department of Homeless Services has issued a Code Red<\/a>, opening shelters to anyone \u201creasonably believed to be homeless.\u201d Outreach teams will be dispatched to offer shelter and resources like water and other supplies to those in need, and New Yorkers who see someone homeless and in need of help can call 311 to have a team dispatched.\u00a0<\/p>\n An air quality alert is in effect until Tuesday night, too, with the Air Quality Index hovering around 100, or \u201cunhealthy for sensitive groups,\u201d due to high levels of ground-level ozone.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sensitive New Yorkers \u2014 including older adults, children and teens, people with lung diseases and asthma, or people who spend more than six hours a day outside \u2014 are encouraged to stay indoors or at least cut down on time spent outdoors while air quality is poor.\u00a0<\/p>\n Find a Cooling Center near you<\/p>\n Cooling Centers are open across the city on Tuesday and Wednesday, offering free, air-conditioned space to anyone in need. Many Brooklyn Public Library locations are cooling centers<\/a>, though patrons are encouraged to call their local branch to confirm before heading over.\u00a0<\/p>\n Some NYC Health+Hospitals locations \u2014 like South Brooklyn Health and Kings County \u2014 are also open until the early afternoon. Though pools and beaches are not yet open for the season, spray showers should be on and operational at parks and playgrounds. Use Cool It! NYC<\/a> to find outdoor spray showers and water fountains near you.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brooklyn Paper has assembled a list of some of Brooklyn\u2019s cooling centers below, with addresses, operating hours and phone numbers. Some centers are open to seniors only.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FirstHeatWave_062325-4.jpg\")
Cooling Centers are open across New York City. File photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n![\"cooling](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-19-at-2.01.48-PM.jpg\")
A map of active cooling centers in Brooklyn. The centers are open Tuesday, May 19-Wednesday, May 20. Image courtesy of NYC Cool Options<\/p>\n