Cooling centers open in Monroe County as heat wave hits

With forecasted temperatures in at least the low 90s through next Friday (June 27), Monroe County emergency management staff have announced the opening of several cooling centers, mostly at fire stations, but some at library branches.

Cooling centers are currently set to be open through Wednesday. Cooling centers at fire stations and library branches have different hours of operation. (A complete listing from the Monroe County emergency management news release is included below.)

According to the Monroe County news release, cooling stations are meant for people to just to come in to cool down and continue on their way. No food, showers, or places for sleeping are available. At two of the fire stations, pets are allowed—Monroe Fire Protection District Station 21 and Station 29. Pets have to be in a kennel or carrier.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory through Tuesday evening (June 24). The NWS advisory includes advice to check on relatives and neighbors. The advice also includes drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air-conditioned room, staying out of the sun.

The NWS says to be alert for signs of heat exhaustion. Those include heavy sweating, pale and clammy skin, a weak but fast pulse, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, headache, or brief fainting.

The NWS also advises to watch for signs of heat stroke, which is more serious: Call 911. Symptoms of heat stroke include skin that feels hot and dry or slightly damp. A person suffering from heat stroke might act confused, slur their speech, have a strong rapid pulse, or even lose consciousness.

Fri (June 20) through Wed (June 25)

Cooling Station Locations Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Bloomington Fire Station 1 (Headquarters)
  300 E. 4th Street, Bloomington
• Ellettsville Fire Department Headquarters
  5080 West State Road 46, Ellettsville
• Monroe Fire Protection District Station 22 (Perry)
  3953 South Kennedy Drive, Bloomington
• Monroe Fire Protection District Station 21 (Clear Creek)
  9094 South Strain Ridge Road, Bloomington (pets allowed)
• Monroe Fire Protection District Station 23 (Indian Creek)
  8019 South Rockport Road, Bloomington
• Monroe Fire Protection District Station 25 (Bloomington)
  5081 North Old State Road 37, Bloomington
• Monroe Fire Protection District Station 29 (Van Buren)
  2130 South Kirby Road, Bloomington (pets allowed)

Cooling Station Locations Open M-Th 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., F-Sat 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun noon to 6 p.m.

• Downtown Branch Library
  303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington

Cooling Station Locations Open M-Th 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., F-Sat 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun noon to 6 p.m.

• Southwest Branch Library
  890 W. Gordon Pike, Bloomington
• Ellettsville Branch Library
  600 W. Temperance Street, Ellettsville