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Department of Human Services

Monday to Friday, 8:15 am to 4:45 pm
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64 New York Avenue, NE, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 671-4200
Fax: (202) 671-4326
TTY: 711
Email:dhs@dc.gov
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DC 2012 Heat Emergency Plan
The District of Columbia Government, through the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), will implement the District Heat Emergency Plan when the temperature or heat index reaches 95º. Extreme heat causes significant impacts to individuals residing in public facilities, public housing, senior facilities, senior centers, and homeless shelters throughout the city. District agencies will activate their internal plans to ensure their residents, employees, and the public are protected against extreme heat. Residents and visitors are encouraged to go to find a cooling center near you. Recreation Centers, DC Public Libraries, and Senior Wellness Centers, are all places to beat the heat and are open to the public. These locations provide a cool place to rest and also provide water and activities.
The heat index is a measurement of the air temperature in relation to the relative humidity, used as an indicator of the perceived temperature. HSEMA, in conjunction with the Department of Health (DOH), will disseminate emergency public information to the public through agency outreach programs and the DC webpage at www.dc.gov.
If major power outages occur throughout the city HSEMA may activate a Department of Recreation site as a cooling center for that neighborhood or area. The Department of Human Services will provide water and cots if necessary during the incident.
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Extreme Weather - Heat

The heat index is a measurement that combines the effects of heat and humidity. It tells how hot it really feels when the effects of humidity are added to high temperatures. When heat and humidity combine to reduce the amount of evaporation of sweat from the body, outdoor exercise becomes dangerous even for those in good shape.
In the District, the Heat Emergency Plan is activated when the heat index reaches 95 degrees.
In the event of extreme heat, you should take the following precautions:
- Stay indoors as much as possible.
- Turn on the air-conditioner or fan.
- Visit one of the District's "Cooling Centers" located throughout the city, if you do not have access to a cool-temperature location.
- DO NOT leave children or pets in vehicles.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Wear light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.
- Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside. SPF 15-30 is best.
- Limit exposure to the sun, especially between 10 AM and 3 PM when it is strongest
- Watch for symptoms of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
For information about water for the homeless, contact United Planning Organization at (202) 399-7093.
COOLING CENTERS
EXTENDED POOL HOURS for SATURDAY, JULY 7th & SUNDAY, JULY 8th:
• The following pools will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 7th AND Sunday, July 8th:
- Ward 2: East Potomac Pool (972 Ohio Drive SW ) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Jelleff Recreation Center Pool (3265 S Street NW) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Volta Park Pool (1555 34th Street NW) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Ward 5: Langdon Park Pool (2860 Mills Avenue NW) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Theodore Hagans Jr. Pool (3201 Fort Lincoln Drive NE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Ward 6: Rosedale Pool (1701 Gales Street NE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Ward 7: Benning Park Pool (5100 Southern Avenue SE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Kelly Miller Pool (4900 Brooks Street NE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Ward 8: Anacostia Pool (1800 Anacostia Drive SE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Douglass Pool (1921 Fredrick Douglass Court SE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Oxon Run Pool (501 Mississippi Avenue, SE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• The following pools will be open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 7th AND Sunday, July 8th:
- Ward 1: Banneker Recreation Center Pool (2500 Georgia Avenue NW) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Ward 2: Francis Pool (25th & N Street, NW) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Ward 4: Upshur Recreation Center Pool (4300 Arkansas Avenue NW) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Ward 5: Harry Thomas Sr. Pool (1743 Lincoln Road, SE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Ward 6: Randall Pool (25 I Street SW) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Ward 7: Fort Dupont Pool (830 Ridge Road, SE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
- Ward 8: Barry Farm Pool (1230 Sumner Road, SE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fort Stanton Pool (1800 Erie Street, SE) || Hours: 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
• All Children's Pools will operate on their normal schedule from 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Spray Parks will operate on their normal, individual schedules.
The following DC Public Libraries are open on Saturday between the hours of 9:30 – 5:30
• Anacostia
• Capitol View
• Chevy Chase
• Cleveland Park
• Deanwood
• Dorothy Irene Height/Benning
• Francis A. Gregory
• Georgetown
• Juanita E. Thornton/Shepherd Park
• Lamond-Riggs
• Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library
• Mt. Pleasant
• Northeast
• Northwest One
• Palisades
• Parklands-Turner
• Petworth
• Southeast
• Southwest
• Takoma Park
• Tenley-Friendship
• Watha T. Daniel/Shaw
• West End
• William O. Lockridge/Bellevue
• Woodridge
Monitoring and Investigation
Fraud, Suggestions, Complaints and Unusual Incidents
The Office of Program Review, Monitoring and Investigation (OPRMI) investigates allegations of suspected public assistance benefit fraud, related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamps Program (FSP); Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid, and refers substantiated cases for prosecution or program disqualification.
OPRMI also investigates Unusual Incidents, such as employee misconduct, harassment and assault, which compromise the integrity of DHS programs or which threaten the health or safety of DHS customers, District government employees and the public.
Additionally, OPRMI receives and assesses suggestions for improvement and coordinates the resolution of complaints related to DHS programs and services.
Anyone may complete and submit the appropriate form to:
- submit an allegation of suspected public assistance benefit fraud
- report an unusual incident, or
- submit a complaint or suggestion
For more information related to fraud, unusual incidents, suggestions for improvement or complaints, click on the categories below.





