Brian Coddington, Communications Director, 509.625.6740
Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 8:25 a.m.
Continued forecasted high temperatures above 95 degrees has extended the operation of the City’s flexible, scalable network of 1,000 spaces in central and in-neighborhood cooling centers to anyone needing relief from the heat.
Cooling centers began operating daily on Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm in the multi-purpose rooms at the Looff Carrousel and will remain open until the forecasted high drops below 95 degrees, currently projected to be sometime this weekend. Spokane Public Library locations will also reopen Tuesday and are available as cooling resources.
“Operation of the City’s cooling center resources will extend with the continuation of this current heat wave,” Mayor Nadine Woodward said. “The prolonged heat can have an impact on the body, so we are urging people to hydrate regularly and check on friends and neighbors to see if they need any assistance managing through the hotter weather.”
People are encouraged to plan ahead to know where cooling resources are located, including those operated by community partners, and check in with loved ones, friends, and neighbors throughout the high heat to develop a personal plan for managing cooling, hydration, and transportation needs. Malls, movie theaters, businesses, and shaded neighborhood parks can also meet localized needs for intermittent relief.
Drink plenty of water and juices, know the signs of heat stroke and exhaustion, and seek medical assistance early if you have concerns.
The Looff multi-purpose rooms were open as a cooling center on July 18 and 19, and 25, and 72, 36, and 94 people, respectively, used the space. Peak times were in the early to late afternoons.
