It’s scorching across Central Florida this week, and that includes Parramore, which is under a heat advisory.

Experts say it’s all part of something called the “heat island effect.”

That’s when all the concrete and buildings downtown soak up the sun during the day, then push that heat out into surrounding neighborhoods.

It’s not hard to tell — it’s extremely hot outside, especially in Parramore.

“It’s hot like hell,” said resident Calvin Jones.

Jones says the heat is so intense, he has to keep moving or risk overheating.

“Inside, outside, or go around the corner to the shade,” he said.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, people who live in communities near a downtown center — often lower-income — are also more likely to have pre-existing health conditions that can worsen in extreme heat.

Jones, who takes medication for a heart condition and high cholesterol, says he has to keep his A/C running constantly. But that comes with a cost.

“My bill is like $300 – $400. Lucky last month it was only 200-something, and it went down,” he added.

Community activist Lawanna Gelzer is using machines funded by a federal grant to test air quality in Parramore. She said the heat is making things worse by trapping pollution and car exhaust from I-4.

“They cannot leave the ozone, so it is trapped. Therefore, we’re breathing in more toxins than we breathed in before,” said Gelzer, who represents The Coalition of 100 Black Women of Central Florida.

To help the community prepare, her team is putting together extreme heat, hurricane, and disaster preparation kits.

“Getting ready to go back to school — well, we all want nice book bags and everything. It would be nice if every kid had an electrolyte tablet in their book bag,” Gelzer said.

The city of Orlando is also encouraging families to cool off at their local pools, which are free to Orlando residents. City Commissioner Shan Rose said the city received a $165,000 grant to help residents get energy-efficient appliances and explore solar options.

“Sometimes we find that, you know, renters may call and say, ‘If I make a complaint about something, the landlord will raise the rent.’ So what we’re doing is saying, ‘Hey, we’re gonna help offset some of those costs and be able to lower bills,’” Rose said.

While that part of the program is still in the works, the city plans to roll out the initiative at a later date. Officials are also working on a tree program to add more shade in Parramore and other areas of the city.