As summer hits, cooling centers available locally

The first heat wave has already moved through the area, with several days over the past week seeing temperatures in the upper 80s and 90s.

While that first push has passed—and cooler temperatures are expected to settle in alongside some rainfall over this coming weekend—the heat will be back soon enough.

The Will County EMA has a list of local cooling centers for those who may need to get out of the heat.

Included on that list is Braidwood City Hall, which is open during operating hours, but can be utilized after hours upon request.

“The city is very much into whatever it can do to help people, at anytime at all” Braidwood City Administrator Tony Altiery said. “They can come to City Hall, or they can call us and see if there is any other way we can help. Some people, we’ve said hey, we have an extra room that we can put somebody up in for a night or two.”

Altiery said the council chambers have been utilized for extreme weather issues in both the heat and the cold.

“In winter last year, we actually had someone stay [at City Hall[] for two night,” he said. “We can lock [the office] and have the council room open, and since the police are around 24/7 they’ll stop in and check on them a few times a night and make sure everything is there. Everything is locked and alarmed, so we can give someone a place [in an emergency], they set up a cot and slept in the council room.”

“I think people should consider City Hall a hub for those questions, if you just call City Hall and make us aware of it, we’d be more than happy to get somebody out,” added Mayor Karen Hart. “Tony has gone out at all kinds of odd hours, [Police Chief] Todd [Lyons] has, and I’m sure the rest of the board would also do it.”

Wilmington City Hall is listed through the Will County EMA as a cooling center by request only.

Residents can also seek refuge from the heat at local libraries during regular business hours, including Fossil Ridge and Wilmington. Both libraries have areas where residents can sit to relax, not to mention plenty of reading material on hand to pass the time.

“We are happy to be a cooling center during business hours,” said Maria Meachum, the Executive Director of the Wilmington Public Library District. “We always promote that as a place to come hang out during heat waves but we cannot be one after hours. [We] do not have the manpower or the space to be one overnight.”

Residents should check with municipal buildings and libraries for availability as a cooling center by calling first.

The risks of extreme heat can include discomfort and fatigue, along with more serious illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Extreme heat can be particularly hazardous for children, seniors, those with special needs, and pets.

Simple steps can be taken to prevent these health risks, including limiting direct sunlight, avoiding overexertion, wearing lightweight clothing, and consuming plenty of fluids.

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures are expected to return the upper-80s to mid-90s by midweek next week.

For a full list of cooling centers, visit www.willcountyema.org/warmingcooling.