No, it had nothing to do with jerks...

Bringing a touch of the Caribbean and especially Jamaica to Tiger Lane, the Caribbean Jerk Festival showed the tropics' bright colors, tasty food and movin' music on Saturday, July 14. MLGW volunteers staffed an information booth at Jerk Fest, informing visitors about natural gas safety, avoiding scams and how to save on your utility bill. (Click below to see the whole album.)

The Cooling Center Will Open Today through Thursday Morning: (The Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library)

The City of Memphis has implemented its hot weather plan with the establishment of a Cooling Center. Cooling Centers are places where residents dealing with heat index of at least 105°F for more than 3 hours per day for 2 consecutive days, or heat index more than 115°F for any period of time may escape the extreme conditions. Primary locations for cooling centers are usually malls, shopping centers, libraries, and community centers that are opened during normal business hours.

The After Hours Cooling Center will open today, July 24, 2017 through Thursday morning, July 27, 2017. Each day the operational hours are 9:00 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. unless weather conditions change.

There were 115 guests who utilized the cooling center from Friday, July 21, 2017 – Monday, July 24, 2017.

The Cooling Center Location:

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
3030 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111

The Cooling Center at the library will be open for those seeking cooling after normal business hours. Those seeking overnight shelter accommodations are encouraged to seek assistance from partners at The Union Mission located at 383 Poplar Ave. or The Salvation Army located at 696 Jackson Ave. For assistance regarding transportation please contact the OEM number below for assistance. Staff will continue to monitor the heat index to determine the need for continual accommodations.

Please follow on: Twitter- @MemphisOEM

If you have any questions, please contact the City of Memphis Office of Emergency Management at (901) 636-2525

MLGW Activates Hazardous Weather Program for Extreme Hea

(July 20, 2017) – Due to the current heat wave that has engulfed Memphis and Shelby County, Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division will implement its Hazardous Weather Condition Impact Management Program effective Friday, July 21, 2017.

Residential customers can pay $250 plus the appropriate reconnect fee toward their outstanding balance to re-establish utility service. Participation is open to customers who are currently without one or more utility services as well as those who may have high bills and are attempting to avoid being disconnected at some point in the future.

For the Special Reconnect Program, those currently without one or more utility services are required to complete the Hazardous Weather Agreement and enter into a deferred payment plan for their remaining outstanding balances that can range from five to nine months depending on the balance.

For the Deferred Payment Plan Relaxed Rules Program, the bill has to be more than $250 and the upfront money required is 25 percent of the money owed or $250, whichever is less. Additional conditions apply.

Eligible customers need to bring two forms of identification and payment to one of MLGW’s five community centers: 245 South Main Street, 2935 Lamar Avenue, 1111 East Shelby Drive, 2424 Summer Avenue or, in Millington, 5131 Navy Road.

MLGW’s Community Offices will remain open until 7 p.m. while the Hazard Weather Condition program is in active. In addition to these temporary weekday extended hours, the Community Offices will be open this Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Hazardous Weather Condition Impact Management Program is separate from MLGW’s weather-related moratorium policy, which is in effect whenever these conditions exist: (a) the forecast heat index will be 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time during a 24-hour period; or (b) the forecast heat index will be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time in a 24-hour period for customers 60 years of age or older, physically challenged, or customers certified as life-support dependent.

MLGW is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 426,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County.

Test Finds No Detectable Traces of Arsenic, Lead in Treated Drinking Water

Last week, a certified independent lab began conducting tests on 10 wells that supply water to MLGW’s Davis pumping station located in southwest Memphis. Tests were also conducted on the treated drinking water which goes into MLGW’s distribution system.

Initial test results had some traces of lead in two wells which prompted more samples to be pulled. Test results on the second samples from the two wells indicated that lead was below detection limits.

All wells and drinking water leaving the station tested below detected limits for arsenic.

 

Below are the arsenic and lead test results from the certified independent lab.

Weather-Related Moratorium Policy

When weather is extreme, we do not disconnect residential services. Each day we post whether we are disconnecting or not on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Weather-Related Moratorium Policy

It is the policy of MLGW to not disconnect any residential accounts for non-payment whenever the following conditions exist:

(a) The forecast wind chill factor will be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below (freezing) for a period of 24 hours or more.

(b) The forecast heat index will be 100 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time during a 24-hour period.

(c) The forecast heat index will be 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above at any time in a 24-hour period for customers 60 years of ago or older, physically challenged, or customers certified as life-support dependent.   

MLGW closes east-bound lane of Union Avenue for underground electrical work

We have closed the southern-most east-bound lane of Union Avenue west of Midtown I-240 to east of Bellevue. The work will continue through September 29, 2017. This work will take place daily from 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

This closure is necessary to perform underground electrical installation for Methodist University Hospital. The closure will also affect an additional east-bound lane closing on Union Avenue as well as the north-bound lanes of Bellevue taking traffic down to one lane. This will not prevent access to the hospital or emergency room.

Plan to Beat the Heat!

The National Weather Service predicts heat index values approaching 105 degrees Wednesday through the weekend. “Excessive heat is not just uncomfortable, but can lead to heat-related illness and even death. Both are preventable if you take precautions,” said Dale Lane, Shelby County Office of Preparedness Director. “Plan how to beat the heat this summer!”

Stay Informed: Check the forecast for changes in temperature and high heat index values.

Know the Terms:

Heat Index: Relative humidity plus air temperature or “how hot it feels.”

Heat Advisory: Heat index meets local advisory criteria for 1 to 2 days (highs = 100 to 105 F).

Heat Wave: Prolonged excessive heat and humidity - typically for 2 or more days.

Excessive Heat Watch: Conditions are favorable for excessive heat to meet or exceed local criteria
in 24 to 72 hours.

Excessive Heat Warning: Heat index meets or exceeds local warning criteria for 2 days.

Vehicles: Never leave children or pets alone in an enclosed vehicle. Look before you lock. If you see a child or pet alone in an enclosed vehicle, call 9-1-1.

Hydrate: Drink plenty of water. Don’t wait until you are thirsty. Avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Nutrition: Eat small meals often. Avoid food with high sodium content.

Clothing: Wear loose lightweight, light-colored clothes. Wear a wide-brimmed hat.

Plan Ahead: If you exercise outside, do so in early morning or early evening hours.

Stay Inside: If you have no air conditioning, move to lowest floor. Close drapes. Use a fan.
Take cool showers. Visit air conditioned public places (library, mall, or community center).

Sunscreen: Wear sunscreen and reapply as directed.

Be a Buddy! Check on those without air conditioning, seniors, outdoor laborers, infants, young children, those with medical conditions, and those who live alone.

Pets: Bring pets into air conditioning or ensure they have shade and cool water to drink.

Learn to Prevent Heat Illnesses:

Heat cramps:
Symptoms: Severe muscle spasms, usually in legs or abdomen; heavy sweats.
Remedy: Move to a cool place. Rest. Drink cool water. Lightly stretch affected muscles.

Heat exhaustion:
Symptoms: Heavy sweats; cool, moist, or flushed skin; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; confusion; fast, weak pulse; and exhaustion.
Remedy: Move to a cool place. Loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet towels. If conscious, give sips of cool water. If no improvement, if victim refuses water or vomits, call 9-1-1!

Heat stroke: 
The body cannot cool down by sweating due to dehydration. Life threatening!
Symptoms: Increased body temperature; decreased sweating; hot red skin; change in or loss of consciousness; rapid, strong pulse; rapid, shallow breathing; confusion; headache; nausea or vomiting; and seizures.
Remedy: Call 9-1-1! Move to a cool place. Apply cool, wet towels. Do not give liquids.

Resources: National Weather Service: www.weather.gov Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.ready.gov/heat End of Release