COVID-19 Update #47

We hope that this has reached you in good health. Thank you for your commitment in serving the residents and employees of NYCHA. Together, we can support our communities in need. This issue will highlight the following topics: 

• NYCHA Planned Hot Water Outages
• New COVID-19 Pop Up Testing Sites 
• Today's NYCHA Hero
• Free Books for Youth 
• Keep It Cool NYC!  

NYCHA Planned Hot Water Outages   

Annual preventative maintenance is important for the health and safety of NYCHA residents because it helps preserve heating equipment and infrastructure. During the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, NYCHA paused all planned outages, but it is essential that this maintenance occurs before the next heating season. 

This maintenance includes cleaning, lubricating, adjusting, repairing, and replacing work components and ensuring equipment and mechanical areas are in satisfactory operating condition. Preventative maintenance typically happens during warmer months and affects boilers for both heat and hot water, hot water heaters, and vacuum tanks. Listed below are the upcoming developments planned to experience hot water outages: 

Residents at each of the affected developments have been notified of the planned outages through robocalls and signs and posters at their developments.

• July 9, 2020 – Wilson Houses, Astoria Houses, Jefferson Houses, Marcy Houses, Pomonok Houses, Ravenswood Houses, Boston Secor Houses, and Butler Houses 
   
• July 10, 2020 – Mill Brook Houses 

New COVID-19 Pop-Up Testing Sites    

Red Hook, Brooklyn 
151 Bay Street, Open July 10th 

Co-Op City, Bronx
105 Drieser Loop, Open July 22

Text “COVID TEST” to 855-48 or visit NYC.gov/COVIDTEST to find a testing site near you

Today's NYCHA Hero:

Free Books for Youth 

• Vladeck Houses
• Jacob Riis Cornerstone

Keep Cool NYC!     

The City’s Cool It! NYC program is being expanded to better serve New Yorkers in neighborhoods that have higher health risks during extreme heat. Here’s how the program will keep more New Yorkers cool: 

• NYC Parks is adding 250 new outdoor cooling elements, such as hydrants and other plumbing fixtures that can be adapted as spray showers and misting features. Click to locate cooling elements on the Cool It! NYC map. 
• During heat advisories, the City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Fire Department will install spray caps on 320 hydrants in heat-burdened areas, which will help more New Yorkers in these zones get within a quarter-mile walk of a spray feature. 
• The Open Streets initiative will be expanded to designate certain streets as “Cool Streets,” which are blocks that have shade from trees and/or hydrants with spray caps. In addition, the Department of Transportation will add outdoor cooling features to its Plaza, Seasonal Streets, and Weekend Walks programs.
• DEP will create a reusable water bottle distribution program to promote reusable bottles and remind New Yorkers to stay hydrated. The City will provide 15,000 bottles to elected officials, community boards, and partner organizations to distribute citywide.  

During heat waves, Cooling Centers provide air-conditioned relief for people who don’t have air conditioning at home; social distancing and wearing face coverings still apply. When there is a heat emergency, you can find a Cooling Center near you here.