Baby, it’s hot

W. Zachary Malinowski

A rare early June heat wave gripped the state yesterday and the record-setting temperatures sent school officials scrambling for relief for thousands of children across the state and in Seekonk.

As of last night, Cranston was the only school district in the state to call off classes today because of the heat. There will be early dismissals in Pawtucket, Warwick, Woonsocket, Bristol, Warren, Johnston, North Providence, North Smithfield, Smithfield and Seekonk. Two Catholic schools — St. Augustine’s in Providence and St. Rocco’s in Johnston — will also have a short school day.

The National Weather Service announced at 3:30 p.m. that a new record in Providence — 97 degrees — was set yesterday, breaking the old record of 95 degrees that was set in 1984. The stifling heat is expected to continue today as temperatures are expected to reach 96, while forecasters are calling for the heat to drop to a more comfortable mid-80s tomorrow and drop a few more degrees by the week’s end.

Pawtucket School Supt. Hans W. Delith was the first to take action yesterday canceling afternoon classes in the city’s elementary, junior high and high schools. By late afternoon, other school districts announced that they were dismissing classes early today.

Elliott Krieger, spokesman for the state Department of Education, said that the early dismissals due to heat were the first in Rhode Island in “recent memory.” He said that several school districts called for advice, but it’s up to the local authorities to make the call to cancel or dismiss children early.

If school is canceled, such as in Cranston, the district must make up the day or appeal to the state Board of Regents for an emergency waiver. Cranston has scheduled the make-up day for Friday. However, the early-dismissal days do not have to be made up.

Warwick elementary and junior high school students will be sent home today after they are served lunch. The high schools are on a limited schedule due to final exams and their schedules will remain unchanged.

Providence, the state’s largest school district, has decided to keep schools open and school officials are taking “necessary steps” to ensure that students are safe.

The schools are keeping students inside and providing them with bottled water to keep them hydrated. Parents are urged to dress their children in light, loose-fitting clothing and limit their physical activity.

In East Bay, the Bristol Warren Regional School District said that Mt. Hope High School students will be dismissed today at 11 a.m. — except for sophomores who are scheduled to have their academic portfolio reviews. They will be dismissed at 1:10 p.m.

Kickemuit Middle School in Warren will close at 12:45 p.m. Morning kindergarten in Bristol and Warren will dismiss at its regular time, but there will be no afternoon preschool or kindergarten. Afterschool activities also are canceled.

In Seekonk, the high school will let its students leave today at 11:30 a.m., while Hurley Middle School will be dismissed at 12:10 p.m. and the two elementary schools will close at 12:45 p.m.

“It’s unbearable in the buildings,” said Seekonk School Supt. Emile Chevrette. “It’s very difficult for learning to take place in these conditions. It’s best to take precautions.”

He said there was “no air whatsoever” yesterday on the second floor of Seekonk High School. Staff moved some students to classrooms on the first floor, but the air was nearly as stagnant on the lower level, he said.

Students in the upper grades were notified of today’s early dismissals on the school intercom at day’s end. Notices were sent home in the younger students backpacks and a mass e-mail was sent to parents.

Woonsocket School Supt. Maureen Macera announced that city schools will close today at 11:30 a.m.

In South County, there was no word of school closings or early dismissals. Westerly Supt. Thomas DiPaola issued a reminder that his town is a place to escape the heat and that also goes for the schools. “We have ocean breezes,” he said.

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency issued a cautionary announcement yesterday urging all residents to beware of the heat and take precautions.

“We are asking all Rhode Islanders to take this extreme weather seriously and pay attention to the tips so we all can survive the heat without incident,” said J. David Smith, RIEMA’s executive director. “Look out for your family, friends and neighbors.”

A particularly vulnerable population is the elderly.

Emergency cooling shelters opened across the state yesterday to make senior citizens and the disadvantaged as comfortable as possible. The Providence Emergency Management Agency announced that one shelter at the Da Vinci Center, 401 Charles St., is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The city also will distribute 1,800 bottles of water in Kennedy Plaza, at recreation centers and in other parts of the city. The water will be passed out from police cruisers.

The EMA has also contacted the Providence Public Library and senior centers for help. City officials encouraged residents to visit any of the following libraries between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.: Rochambeau, 708 Hope St.; Mount Pleasant, 315 Academy Ave.; Knight Memorial, 275 Elmwood Ave.; Central Library Branch, 150 Empire St.; Fox Point, 90 Ives St.; and Olneyville, 1 Olneyville Square.

Providence’s senior services office will distribute fans today to seniors in need and officials are urging those living in high rises for the elderly to go to the air-conditioned community rooms. For more information, call the mayor’s Office of Senior Services at (401) 421-2489.

In Woonsocket, Owen Bebeau, director of the city’s Emergency Management Agency, announced that the city would provide two cooling centers. The Woonsocket Senior Center on Social Street will be open today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Harris Public Library on Clinton Street will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Senior citizens in the city’s four high rises are urged to visit the air-conditioned community rooms on the first floor of the buildings.

In Pawtucket, the Salvation Army’s Pawtucket Corps, at 102 High St., will open its doors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today for people seeking relief from the stifling heat. Nubia Ocampo, a social worker, said light refreshments, including lunch, will be served.

In Burrillville, the town took the unusual step of opening Spring Lake Beach. The official beach season gets under way Saturday, but the town decided to open the park for swimming today from 10 a.m. to dusk. Lifeguards will be on duty.

According to National Grid spokeswoman Debbie Drew, there were fewer than 1,500 Rhode Island customers across the state who lost power yesterday, though it was unclear if the power failures were heat-related.

The high heat and poor air quality mean that RIPTA buses will be free to ride today.

— With staff reportsBeat the heat

The Rhode Island Department of Health offers these precautions on how to cope with the heat wave:

•Stay out of the direct sun. Seek shaded or air-conditioned areas.

•Avoid strenuous physical activity.

•Schedule outside events early in the morning when it’s cooler and air quality is better.

•Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid caffeine, soda and alcohol.

•Wear light-colored and lightweight clothing. Use hats with brims and put on a sunscreen.

•At the first sign of heat stroke — altered mental state, not sweating, nausea — seek medical attention.

bmalinow@projo.com