Baltimore launches Code Red heat season, urges residents to prepare now

Baltimore is opening its 22 indoor and outdoor pools on Saturday, May 23, just as city leaders push residents to prepare for the first brutal stretch of summer heat before it arrives. The message from emergency management director Joey Henderson is simple: do not wait until a heat wave is underway to figure out where to cool off, how to protect a home that traps heat, or whom to call if a neighbor is in trouble.

City officials formally launched Code Red Extreme Heat season on Thursday, May 14, with City Administrator Faith Leach joined by the Baltimore City Health Department, the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Planning, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks, and the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The city’s heat season runs from May 15 through September 15, and Code Red alerts are activated by the Health Commissioner, ideally before 6 a.m. on the day of the alert.

The city is focusing its warnings on people most likely to suffer when temperatures climb and homes heat up fast. Baltimore health materials say particularly vulnerable adults, children up to age 4, and people with pre-existing health conditions face higher risk during extreme heat. Officials also warn that people without electricity are especially vulnerable to heat-related health problems, a concern that can quickly become dangerous in older homes and in neighborhoods where air conditioning is unreliable or unaffordable.

Residents can call 311 for cooling-center locations, heat safety tips and warning signs of heat-related illness. The city says 911 is for a heat-related emergency. Residents who are unsure whether a Code Red alert is in effect can also use 311 for details, and they can report concerns about vulnerable neighbors through the same number.

City guidance urges people to make small but practical changes before the hottest days arrive. Weatherstripping around doors and windows can cut down on drafts that let heat in, and sun-blocking curtains can reduce indoor temperatures during the day. Those steps matter most in homes that heat up quickly, where a few degrees can separate discomfort from a medical emergency.

The push comes as Baltimore heads into its warm-weather season with public health and recreation linked closely together. Recreation and Parks says the city’s pool system is part of that safety net, and the reopening date gives families, older adults and outdoor workers a first, concrete option for relief before the first major heat wave turns routine summer weather into a public health threat.