Watch CBS News

Authorities Hand Out Supplies To Help Residents Cope With The Heat

BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- Both Baltimore and Washington have broken records with temperatures soaring beyond 100 degrees.

Baltimore set a record with 102 degrees at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. The previous record of 101 was set in 2010.

Chris Vaccaro, a spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, says Washington hit 105 degrees at Reagan National Airport on Saturday. That broke the previous record of 102 set on this date in 2010.

This was only the fifth time Washington has ever been that hot. The all-time record high is 106 degrees. It was set back in 1930 and in 1918.

This is also the 10th consecutive day temperatures have been 95 degrees or higher in the Washington area.

Monique Griego has the latest on the growing health concerns this heat is creating.

Volunteers were going door-to-door with ice and water but state leaders are also asking people to check on their neighbors. And if you don't have power, they say you should find a place to cool off.

As the heat wave stretched into its 11th straight day, Mother Nature surged temperatures even higher into the triple digits.

"It's blazing outside."

"It's too hot. extremely hot."

An excessive heat warning was in effect for most of Maryland through 10 p.m. Saturday.

"It's actually greater now than at the beginning of this heat wave because you have a cumulative effect of the heat on people," Peter Beilenson of the Howard County Health Department said.

Beilenson says the heat warning should not be taken lightly.

Already nine heat-related deaths are reported in Maryland-- five in Baltimore City, two in Montgomery County, one in Wicomico, and Friday, a new death was reported in Baltimore County.

"We're asking everyone to check in on their neighbors, particularly those who are not as mobile," Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown said.

The Maryland Defense Force teamed up with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and Baltimore City to go door-to-door today with hot weather supplies. Volunteers mostly targeted neighborhoods that are still without power.

Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) and other utility crews are working around the clock to restore service to around 5,000 homes.

"We're bringing water. We're bringing them food and if they need a ride back to a cooling center, we're doing that too. So we're just making sure everyone is OK," Comm. Gen. Brian Kelm of the Maryland Defense Force said.

WJZ found that many residents are doing their best to have found their own way to cool off.

"I've just been drinking plenty of water, and snowballs really help," one resident said.

State leaders are urging residents who don't have power to reach out to cooling centers until repairs are made. For more information on the cooling centers, click here.

For a closer look at the outages in our area, click here.

Health leaders also say if possible you should avoid being outside from the hours of noon to 5 p.m., which is typically the most dangerous time.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.