Tips for keeping safe in extreme heat
-Drink 1 to quarts of fluid daily to prevent dehydration. Water and sports drinks are the best choices. Avoid alcohol and caffeine because they dehydrate the body. -Wear light-colored, lightweight clothing. If you must go outside during the hottest part of the day, wear a hat. -Avoid overexertion and strenuous outdoor activities. -While outdoors, rest frequently in a shady area. -Never leave children, the elderly or pets in a parked car, not even for a few minutes. Brain damage or death can occur from the rapid rise of temperature inside the vehicle. -Make a special effort to check on neighbors, especially if they are seniors, families with young children, people with special needs or living alone.
Chattanooga is in the red as a heat wave passes over Hamilton County, with temperatures expected to reach into the mid-90s this week.
Hotter temperatures and high humidity may combine to increase the probability of heat-related illnesses, so Hamilton County Emergency Management is urging residents to stay safe.
"This weather can be dangerous" the agency's director, Tony Reavley, said in a news release. "It is important for residents to take care in the heat by increasing their fluid intake and reducing their outdoor activities."
Highs could be near 94 through Saturday, said WRCB Chief Meteorologist Paul Barys, with "only isolated showers or storms, and a good chance for showers and storms Sunday and Monday."
While mid-July through early August is typically the hottest time of the year for Chattanooga, the area is currently in a pattern with high pressure overhead, which has led to "above normal temperatures" across the central and eastern parts of the U.S., said Jeremy Buckles, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Morristown, Tenn.
Buckles also said the heat index values are forecast to be in the 100- to 105-degree Fahrenheit range.
How to keep pets safe in hot weather
-Never leave an animal in a parked car under any circumstances. High temperatures can cause organ damage and even death. -Be aware of humidity levels. If high enough, animals will not be able to cool themselves off. -Provide your pet with protection from the sun that allows for airflow, like tree shade or tarps. Doghouses make the heat worse. -Keep animals hydrated with cold water, whether indoors or outdoors, and add ice during heatwaves. -Limit the amount of exercise your pet receives in hot weather and try to schedule it for the early morning or evening hours. -Prevent overheating by using cooling mats, body wraps or vests that can be soaked in water to stay cool for days. -Watch out for signs of heatstroke, which include restlessness, rapid heartbeat, dark red gums, hypersalivation, heavy panting, excessive thirst, dark red or purple tongue, dizziness, glazed eyes, vomiting, diarrhea and unconsciousness. -Treat an animal with heatstroke by moving them to a shady, breathable area, applying cold towels or ice packs to their chest, head and neck, and running cool (not cold) water over their body. Allow them to drink small amounts of water or lick ice cubes. Take them directly to a veterinarian since consequences of heat stroke may not be visible for hours or even days. Sources: The Humane Society, American Red Cross, Chattanooga Holistic Animal Institute
"It is definitely a hot week. We urge people to never leave any person or pet in a parked car with no air conditioning, because temperatures will quickly reach fatal levels," Buckles said. "The official temperature is recorded in the shade, so if you are in the sun, it can be much warmer. If working outside, take plenty of breaks and try to limit work to the cooler hours of the morning and late afternoon. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids."
The forecast has some local businesses prepping for the heat.
Robert Parks, construction manager at T.U. Parks Construction Co. in Chattanooga, said he told his crew members to take precautions.
"It was reminding them to make sure to stay hydrated, take frequent breaks, and make sure they know the signs and symptoms to look for as far as heatstroke and heat illnesses," he said Wednesday afternoon. "And I sent out a chart to know what to look out for and keep them aware."
Parks said they don't have any special gear, but they are encouraged to wear loose clothing. With construction, it's balancing safety with staying cool.
"We all wear hard hats so that protects your skin. We urge them to wear sunscreen if they're out in the sun," he said. "But with safety, we have to wear pants and boots and sleeved shirts."
The workers use a usual eight-hour day with regular breaks, but "during times like these, we're going to tell them 'Hey. There's no schedule or budget that is more important than your health. So if you need to take a break and go sit in the air conditioning, go ahead.'"
With temperatures rising, power consumption in the Tennessee Valley is projected to rise to the highest summertime peak in five years as air conditioners run full blast to beat the heat.
TVA, the largest public utility in the United States, says it is ready for record high electricity demand, which rose to 28,849 megawatts on Tuesday when temperatures across the seven-state region averaged about 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures are projected to rise across the Valley to an average of 95 degrees on Thursday, pushing up power demand to the highest level since the summer of 2012 when power demand rose to 31,000 megawatts.
"We can expect to see electricity demand peak [today] and Friday at about 30,000 megawatts," Patrick Walshe, TVA manager of Resource Operations and Analysis, said in a statement.
TVA spokesman Scott Fielder said TVA is operating nearly all of its power generating plants and buying power on the grid, as it makes economic sense.
"We're ready to go and we have our system ready to respond," he said.
Every temperature degree higher in the Tennessee Valley adds or subtracts about 300 megawatts of demand for TVA - or enough energy to power about 170,000 homes. But Walshe, a meteorologist and manager who is responsible for predicting and responding to peak demands, said TVA is in good shape with the recent addition of the Paradise gas-fired plant and extra rain to replenish hydroelectric supplies this spring.
"While we expect to be about 18 percent above the summer average electrical load this week, there's plenty of power to keep us cool," he said. "With TVA's diverse energy portfolio, the utility can switch between generating sources to keep costs as low as possible."
In Chattanooga, EPB's power demand rose to 1,053 megawatts on Tuesday, surpassing any peak day in June, EPB spokesman John Pless said. EPB expects the hotter weather will push up power demand Thursday to more than 1,300 megawatts.
While TVA and EPB expect no problems meeting the demand and delivering enough electricity, consumers may still wish to conserve power consumption to limit their electricity usage and bills.
To help beat the heat, the Salvation Army is providing free water and fans to local residents in need.
Hydration stations are located at the McCallie Avenue day center and the East 28th Street social services office, and those who want to pick up fans can do so on Fridays at the East 28th Street location. The East Lake swimming pool is open from 2-6 p.m. every day, where community members can swim at no cost, and an emergency mobile kitchen distributes water in the downtown area during hot weather, said Kimberly George, the Salvation Army director of marketing and development.
The organization is asking for monetary donations to help with utility assistance, new box fans and bottled water in order to distribute to low-income and homeless individuals. People who wish to donate fans may do so at the day center, social services office or online at csarmy.org.
"Once we exhaust the fans that we have on hand, we would have helped over 50 people this season," George said. "We're able to do that because of the generosity of this community."
But humans aren't the only ones at risk in hot weather.
Pet owners are also encouraged to exercise caution while spending time with their animals in the heat, said Colleen Smith, veterinarian and owner of Chattanooga Holistic Animal Institute.
"The basic thing is that during the heat of the day, I would not take them out to exercise, especially if they're older, obese, short-nosed or dark-coated, because they have much less tolerance for the heat and a much harder time cooling themselves down naturally," Smith said. "Look for signs of heatstroke, especially if they don't have constant access to drinkable water."
Smith said that dogs are much more likely to suffer from the heat since they will usually follow people around outdoors, while cats normally elect to stay in the shade.
"If they do overheat, they can be cooled down with wet towels, water and ice packs, but don't immerse the animal in cold water because it can cause hypothermia problems and, if disoriented, they can drown even in just a few inches," Smith said.
Smith also said she tells her clients to not even put their pets in a car unless the air conditioning is already running, and urges people to never leave animals in hot cars.
If a pet owner thinks their animal may be suffering from heatstroke, they are urged to call an animal emergency medical clinic immediately for treatment.
The good news is some slightly cooler weather may be rolling in next week as the chances for rain increase.
Barys said highs will most likely reach the mid- to upper-80s by Tuesday.
"The Climate Prediction Center has our region in a 33-40 percent chance of below normal temperatures in the six- to 10-day period," Buckles added. "This is welcome news showing at least the potential for some cooler weather in the wake of the heat wave we are currently experiencing."
Rosana Hughes and Dave Flessner contributed to this story.
Conact staff writer Kimberly Sebring at ksebring@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6315.