Predicted 99° heat index, bad air quality alert: Monroe County to open cooling sites
With a forecasted high temperature of 92°F and a heat index of 99°F on Wednesday, Monroe County emergency management staff have announced that 10 cooling centers will be open across the county in fire stations and public library locations.
Left: The image is from a dynamic map by The B Square. Right: The image is from www.in.gov/idem/airmonitoring/smogwatch .
Wednesday’s (July 23) forecasted high temperature of 92°F with a heat index of 99°F has led Monroe County emergency management staff to announce that 10 cooling centers will be opened across the county, in fire stations and public library locations.
The cooling stations are currently set to open on Wednesday and Thursday. Cooling centers at fire stations and library branches have different hours of operation. (A complete listing is included below.)
Contributing to the potentially dangerous conditions in the next couple of days will be bad air quality.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has announced an Air Quality Action Day for Wednesday, based on forecasted ozone and particulate levels. According to IDEM, for “sensitive groups,” ozone levels are expected to be in the “unhealthy” range, which is indicated in IDEM’s maps with orange shading. Ozone can irritate the lining of airways.
IDEM’s sensitive groups include children, and older adults, people with heart or lung conditions like asthma. The National Weather Service guidance that comes with air quality alerts says to avoid refueling vehicles or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m. and to turn off engines, if they would idle for more than 30 seconds.
According to the Monroe County news release, cooling stations are meant for people to just come in, cool down and continue on their way.
No food, showers, or places for sleeping are available at cooling stations. 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.
Wednesday (July 23) through Thursday (July 24)
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 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Downtown Branch Library
303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington
Cooling Station Locations Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Southwest Branch Library
890 W. Gordon Pike, Bloomington - Ellettsville Branch Library
600 W. Temperance Street, Ellettsville
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