Code Red Alert: Md. Gets Hit With A Heat Wave

BALTIMORE (WJZ)—The summer scorcher is causing serious health problems for some in our area.

Meghan McCorkell has more as people try to beat the heat.

That's easier said that done for some people who are facing power problems.

Scorching temperatures leave Maryland looking for relief.

"It feels like I'm in an oven," said one girl. "Like, toasting."

But relief is hard to find for those in the dark. Power in parts of Canton and Fells Point has been going out since Monday night.

"I just got out of the hospital Sunday for a heart condition. I had a heart attack and look, I've got to put up with this stuff," said Canton resident Robert Akczinski.

Frustration is growing as the hours pass and the temperature rises.

In the 6-hundred block of South Kenwood, the power is up on one side of the street but right across the street, the lights are out---and so is the air conditioning.

"When you have animals and you have the elderly who need certain equipment and no one seems to respond," said Eva Maria Mantegna.

BGE is now working to fix the problem. This as the city issues a Code Red health warning for the rest of the week.

"Stay cool. Stay indoors. Stay connected," said City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot.

Cooling centers are open for those who don't have air conditioning.

"We have asthma and we don't have any air in the house so we're here to cool down so we won't be in the emergency ward," said Panthear Gresham.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has extended pool hours in Baltimore City for Tuesday.  Park pools will operate from noon to dusk, and walk-to pools will remain open from noon to 6 p.m. Druid Hill Park Pool will remain open until 8 p.m.

The Code Red Heart Alert schedule is in effect for city pools. That means, normal swim sessions are suspended and pools will operate in two-hour sessions with 30-minute intermissions.

Last year, Baltimore had 13 heat-related deaths. Four heat-related deaths have already been reported in Maryland this summer.

Baltimore City will have emergency cooling centers open all week where you can get free water and cool air. Those centers are open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Baltimore residents can call 311 for more information about cooling center locations.