Extreme heat and high humidity can be dangerous to anyone, but particularly to the elderly, infants, and young children, persons with disabilities, and people on medication for chronic health problems.
Here's a list of places to take a break from the heat:
DURHAM COUNTY
Durham's main library and its four regional libraries will be designated cooling centers from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning Friday, June 21, and Saturday, June 22.
On Sunday, June 23, Urban Ministries on 410 Library Street, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., is offering heat relief.
Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
The Cumberland County Department of Social Services is open Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 1225 Ramsey Street. All public lobbies will be available to citizens.
The Cumberland County Department of Public Health (First-floor lobby) is open Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 1235 Ramsey Street.
The lobbies of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Centers is open to the public year-round, during normal operating hours and can be used by residents as a respite from the heat.
All eight Cumberland County Public Libraries are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane, Fayetteville, along with Cliffdale, North Regional, and Hope Mills branches are also open Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m.
Find library locations here
WAKE COUNTY
Starting at noon on Saturday, June 22, until at least Monday, June 24, all Wake County Public Libraries locations will offer heat relief. Calling ahead or checking online to see their hours is recommended.
On Monday, June 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., the following locations will be open:
- Wake County Health & Human Services, 220 Swinburne St., Raleigh
- Wake County Health & Human Services Center at Departure, 5809 Departure Drive, Raleigh
- Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon
- Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
- Southern Regional Center, 130 N Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina
- Western Regional Center, 111 James Jackson Ave., Cary
Sites not normally open to the public, such as EMS stations, fire stations, and county fleet maintenance buildings, will not be available as cooling stations.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The list will expand as more cooling centers open.
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