SACRAMENTO, Calif. --
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday activated a heat emergency plan in anticipation of several upcoming days of scorching temperatures and high levels of smoke pollution in the air.
The move comes in response to forecasts by the National Weather Service calling for 100 degrees in many areas of the state, much of which is already under a blanket of heavy wildfire smoke from scores of blazes.
Schwarzenegger directed the Office of Emergency Services, the California Department of Public Health and other state agencies to work together to curb the danger.
"We are coordinating with state and local agencies to help keep people safe during this excessive heat wave," Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement. "I urge all Californians to take proper health precautions as the temperatures rise into the 90s and 100s across the state - drink plenty of water and check on your neighbors who may be more vulnerable."
Meanwhile, the Folsom-based California Independent System Operator, which oversees the state's power grid, issued a Flex Alert for Tuesday calling upon electricity consumers to reduce their energy use during the late afternoon.
State officials are most concerned when the temperature reaches 100 degrees during the day but does not drop below 75 degrees at night. At that point, many of those with health problems face serious risks.
Agencies are seeking to avoid a repeat of problems that arose during a two-week heat wave in July 2006, which resulted in the death of an estimated 143 people.
"We're already taking action," said Tina Walker, a representative of the OES. "We're preparing for the heat and we're getting everybody lined up so that we can have a unified message."
Schwarzenegger toured an area in Butte County scorched by fire last month. The so-called Humboldt fire, which is now contained, is one of more than 1,000 recent blazes to hit the state.
The emergency plan includes coordination by OES of regularly scheduled conference calls with National Weather Service offices throughout the state, county emergency managers and representatives of key state agencies; increased outreach to the public and constituent groups by OES and other state agencies; the opening of cooling centers at state facilities; and contacts with licensed care facilities, hospitals and other facilities that serve seniors, people with disabilities and other special needs populations.
The State Operations Center is already operating 24 hours a day to manage the state's wildfire response.
Key staff will be added from other state agencies to closely monitor the heat wave and to respond to any heat-related issues, the governor's office said.
A list of current cooling centers opened by local authorities along with heat illness prevention tips is available on the front page of the OES Web site at www.oes.ca.gov.
Cooling centers in Tracy, Modesto and Patterson are expected to open Tuesday (more).
Rick Martinez, the Emergency Operations Coordinator for Sacramento County, said cooling centers in Sacramento haven't really worked in the past.
"Look in on our neighbors and friends, obviously take care of their pets. And we're working with our public agencies to look to see if there's any key indicators out there we have not seen that may require us to react differently," Martinez said.
The governor and public health officials continue to encourage people in smoky areas to stay inside and limit their physical activity -- especially children, the elderly and people with asthma and other respiratory problems.
Californians can reduce their risk of heat-related illness by:
Creating a cooler environment by making sure that window air conditioners are installed snugly and ducts are properly insulated, weather stripping doors and sills and placing window reflectors made of cardboard covered with aluminum foil between windows and drapes Drinking plenty of water, especially when taking medication Wearing lightweight and light-colored clothing Avoiding physical activities during periods of peak temperatures Checking on neighbors, family members and pets to ensure they are not being harmed by the heat Watching for signs of heat-related illness, including fatigue, nausea, headache and vomiting Visiting malls, theaters and other public places that are air-conditioned if a person doesn't have his or her own air conditioning.
