The Jacksonville Senior and Wellness Activities Center, 100 Victory Circle, will open as a cooling center starting Monday for anyone needing respite from the heat wave as temperatures soar into the 90s and heat indexes top 100 over the next few days.
The senior center’s safe room will double as a cooling center from noon till 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
“The city of Jacksonville will monitor the weather to determine how long the cooling center will need to remain open. The center is expected to stay open in prolonged periods of extreme heat and humidity,” according to the announcement.
City officials encourage residents to check in on neighbors, especially people at risk of complications from extreme heat.
“This includes adults over 65, children under 4, and those with disabilities or existing medical conditions. People who exercise outdoors should pace themselves and schedule workouts to avoid the mid-day heat,” according to the announcement.
They also remind residents to provide pets with ample water and be alert for signs of heat exhaustion in pets, and never leave people or pets in parked cars. For more information, call the seniors center at 501-982-7531.