City declares heat alert, extends cooling center hours
With temperatures forecast in Long Beach to hit the upper 90s and low 100s through Saturday, city officials are encouraging residents to take extra precautions.
With the National Weather Service forecasting temperatures as high as 102 through this weekend in Long Beach, city officials upgraded their heat advisory, issued on Sept. 3, to a heat alert, Health and Human Services officials announced Thursday.
That means extended hours for cooling centers throughout the city, officials said. The Long Beach Multi-Service Center, located at 1301 W. 12th St., will also extend its hours to provide assistance to people experiencing homelessness, according to the city.
"Residents are strongly encouraged take extra precautions to avoid heat exposure and heat-related illness and seek out air-conditioned spaces during peak heat hours," said a Health and Human Services statement issued Thursday.
A variety of city parks, recreation and marine community centers and all public library locations are designated as cooling centers during their normal business hours.
The updated cooling center schedule is as follows:
- Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave.)
- Thursday, Sept. 5, through Friday, Sept. 6, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- El Dorado Park (2800 Studebaker Road)
- Thursday, Sept. 5, through Friday, Sept. 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st St.)
- Thursday, Sept. 5, through Friday, Sept. From 6, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- McBride Park – California Recreation Community Center (1550 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave.)
- Thursday, Sept. 5, through Friday, Sept. 6, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Long Beach Senior Center (1150 E. 4th Street)
- Thursday, Sept. 5, through Friday, Sept. 6, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In addition, the extended hours at the city's Multi-Service Center are as follows:
- Thursday, Sept. 5 through Friday, Sept. 6, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 8, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
City officials ask residents to contact community centers and library locations ahead of time to confirm they are open, in case of unexpected closures.
"During this excessive heat, people are encouraged to check on friends, family and neighbors who are home-bound to make sure they are not affected by the heat," city health officials said Thursday. "Older adults, those with chronic illnesses, infants and young children are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses."
Precautions to avoid heat-related illness and injuries include wearing loose-fitting clothing, drinking plenty of water, and limiting activities to morning and evening hours, if possible. Click here for an extensive list of precautions you can take to reduce the risk of heat-related illness and injuries.
City officials issued the heat alert because the weather forecast exceeded 95 degrees for two consecutive days or noted an overnight high of 80 degrees for two consecutive nights, according to the health department statement.
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