Excessive Heat Warning: Cooling Centers and Heat Safety Information

Alert Seattle: Excessive Heat Warning issued for Seattle from Wednesday through Saturday. Cooling Centers are available. Find one near you at alert.seattle.gov

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for Seattle due to forecasted high temperatures above 90 degrees. The warming trend will begin Wednesday and continue through Saturday. Cooling centers will be available across the city, and outreach teams are on the ground working with our most vulnerable residents to prevent heat illness in these extreme conditions. You can find a map of locations here: https://www.google.com/mymaps/viewer?mid=1qAVUUMM1gvG1ncmqGy-H-rUhqzlXN94z&hl=en

Heat Safety
Public Health – Seattle & King County recommends taking simple steps to help prevent heat related illness and death:

-Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before you feel thirsty.
-Keep your home cooler by shutting blinds or drawing curtains. Use fans or air-conditioners, if you have one.
-Check on your neighbors, friends, and family in the area – particularly seniors and people with medical conditions – to ensure they are not suffering heat illness at home. Cooling centers are available.
-Avoid outdoor activities if possible during the heat of the day, generally from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
-Never leave children or pets in a vehicle. -Temperatures inside of cars can skyrocket to deadly levels quickly during extreme heat.
-Use life jackets or other flotation devices on the water to prevent drowning.
-Take extreme heat seriously and act with caution this week.

Cooling Centers
Cooling centers are open across the city at libraries, recreation centers, and other facilities. City-affiliated sites are listed below. Anyone visiting a cooling center should wear a mask and maintain distance from people from outside your household to prevent the spread of COVID. Many local businesses also offer air-conditioned spaces.

Libraries
Non-air conditioned libraries may close early if sustained interior temperatures reach 80 degrees or more. Visit the location page of any library on SPL.org to view a map that shows nearby transit stops, parks, and more. Ballard Branch (5614 22nd Ave. NW) will be open on Wednesday, August 11 , Thursday, August 12, Friday, August 13, & Saturday, August 14 from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Seattle Parks and Recreation also offers a variety of pools, splash pads, lifeguarded beaches, and other recreational sites. For a full listing of these sites and their hours of operation, visit Seattle.gov/Parks.

People Experiencing Homelessness
Day Centers for People Experiencing Homelessness are open to the public (with some restrictions), accept pets, and have air-conditioning: Urban Rest Stop – Ballard (2014-B NW 57th St), Monday – Friday, 6:30 AM – 1:30 PM

The Human Services Department’s (HSD) HOPE Team is coordinating outreach efforts with its provider partners to support those living unsheltered during the heat wave. Similar to the their heat response in June, the HOPE Team will be distributing water and basic needs supplies and have transportation resources available to cooling center locations. The HOPE Team is also coordinating outreach efforts with its City department partners, including Health One and Seattle Parks and Recreation. Health One will have unit(s) in operation Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and will be adequately equipped with water and other heat-related supplies.

HSD is monitoring the forecast and making preparations, in partnership with Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and King County and Public Health Seattle King County (PHSKC), in case a temporary cooling shelter is activated this week. There are multiple factors that may be weighed in determining when to activate emergency cooling centers/shelters, and may include, but are not limited to: potential for excessive heat and/or temperatures above 95 degrees, length of a hot weather event, an emergency public health declaration, advisory from National Weather Service, and if temperatures remain high overnight.

Outreach to Vulnerable Populations
Older people, adults with disabilities, and caregivers who need assistance should contact Community Living Connections (toll-free 844-348-5464) for professional, confidential information and resources, free of charge (funded by HSD/ADS).

Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Maintaining City Services
The City of Seattle is working together with our regional partners to prepare for these extreme temperatures including monitoring critical infrastructure like power systems, water systems, roadways, and bridges. In addition, the City of Seattle is monitoring the potential for moderate to unhealthy air quality levels on Wednesday to Saturday. For more information on outreach to vulnerable populations and efforts to protect critical infrastructure from the impacts of heat, visit https://alert.seattle.gov/2021/08/10/city-of-seattle-highlights-cooling-centers-and-pools-open-during-forecasted-extreme-heat/