City of Farmington announces local cooling shelters

The City of Farmington has announced that six municipal buildings will be available as cooling shelters due to the high heat indices forecast for this week. (File photo)

Farmington Emergency Management Director Joshua McAtee announced Monday morning that any city residents seeking relief from the daytime heat due to predicted high heat indices over the next several days may use municipal buildings accessible to the public during regular business hours as a cooling shelter. Water will also be available at these locations.

“The National Weather Service says we could potentially have heat indices of 105 to 120 degrees through at least Thursday and possibly Friday,” McAtee said.

Cooling shelter locations include City Hall, 110 W. Columbia St., 8 a.m., 4:30 p.m.; Development Services, 12 S. Franklin St., 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; Civic Center, 2 Black Knight Drive, 5 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Library, 101 N. A St., 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday; Police Department, 310 Ste. Genevieve Ave., open 24 hours, seven days a week; and Fire Department, 222 E. Columbia St., open 24 hours, seven days a week.

McAtee offered the following tips to prevent heat-related illness and injuries during a heat advisory:

• Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as you can. If you don’t have air conditioning at home, consider going to a public place with air conditioning, such as the cooling shelters listed above.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol, as they can dehydrate you.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen to help protect your skin from the sun and keep you cool.
• Pace yourself and avoid strenuous activities. If you must perform outdoor activities, do them during the coolest part of the day, such as early morning or late evening.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully. Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s the coolest outside.
• Use a buddy system and monitor those at risk, such as children, older adults, and people with chronic conditions.
• Also, take care of pets, especially those left outside during the day, by making sure they have plenty of water and shade available.

For more information, contact the City of Farmington at 573-756-1701.