Some prefer to avoid crowds due to infections but others must go to work
Ignacia del Cid has been a street vendor for several years in the San Fernando Valley. She usually offers her tamales on weekends in the city of Van Nuys.
However, she, like thousands of people in that area, are concerned about the high temperatures that are estimated to range between 104 and 116 from today Saturday to Monday.
“I think it’s better this weekend I’m going to stay at home,” said the woman, who lives with her husband and three children.
The seller said that she usually makes the tamales at night to go out to sell them in the morning.
“I have air conditioning in the house but anyway the house is heated … I think that this weekend I better go to rest,” said del Cid.
Martha Ávila is another street vendor who this weekend will take extreme precautions by being forced to go out to work.
Together with her husband they offer hot dogs and tacos on the street every day. However, their bills have been piling up and they find themselves in dire need of having to go outside regardless of the high temperatures.
“Usually on Saturdays and Sundays we sell all day from 10 in the morning to 10 at night, but due to the heat of this weekend we are going to start selling around 4 in the afternoon,” said Ávila, who resides in Panorama City.
His high blood pressure condition worries him but he said he cannot afford to stay home.
“I take medicine and we are going to bring a lot of water,” he said.
For his part, Mickey López, who lives with his parents, who said they are elderly, indicated that he is worried about the heat wave this long weekend since his father, 71 years old, has to go to work.
“He works as a security guard in a shopping center [al aire libre] and sometimes you can put it in the shade but this weekend we don’t know how it will be, ”he said in anguish.
“My mom does stay at home but my dad doesn’t like to do nothing.”
López added that where he lives, in Panorama City, they have access to a pool but that they prefer not to go because it is constantly full and he is concerned about a possible coronavirus infection when interacting with people he does not know.
“We wanted to see if we were going to go for a walk on the weekend but also with the long holiday. [por Labor Day] there will be more people outside, “he added.
For the good fortune of the family, the home does have air conditioning.
Temperatures are estimated to be 10-20 degrees higher than normal this weekend – throughout Southern California.
State of emergency
The National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings in Orange, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Coachella Valley and San Bernardino counties.
The California Corporation for Independent System Operations (CAISO) issued a statewide Flex Alert through Monday.
With it, Californians are asked to conserve electricity mainly from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm, -period of time in which energy demand is expected to be the highest.
In anticipation of the scorching heat wave, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an emergency proclamation to unleash additional power capacity amid extreme temperatures in the state.
The order allows plants to generate more power by suspending certain permitting requirements, which helps alleviate heat-induced demands on the state’s power grid, a statement said.
Facilities are required to report any violations of these suspended permitting requirements to the appropriate state and local regulatory bodies.
In Los Angeles County, the Department of Public Health reminds everyone to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses, especially older adults, children, outdoor workers, athletes, and people with a chronic medical condition – who are especially sensitive to negative health impacts from extreme heat.
Tips to stay safe
Justina García, spokeswoman for the Southern California Edison electricity company said that we are currently in a difficult situation as many families will want to be at home to avoid the spread of the coronavirus contagion.
She recommends keeping the thermostat in the house at 78 degrees or turning it off when no one is home.
He also said that when people cook on the stove it heats up the house more which makes the air conditioner work harder.
“It’s best if they can cook on an outside grill or in a microwave,” he said.
At night people are asked to open their windows to let in fresh air and during the day to keep the blinds closed to keep out the heat.
Regarding electronics and appliances, it is recommended to use and / or charge before 3:00 pm and after 9:00 pm
For users who are having trouble paying their bills, it is recommended that they contact their local electric company to find out if they have a financial assistance program.
LA County will have several open cooling centers. To find out which is the closest to your home you can visit the portal: https://ready.lacounty.gov/calor/
