August 4, 2003

The City of Houston's Heat Emergency Plan will go in effect starting Tuesday, August 5. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory expected to remain in effect for southeast Texas the rest of the week. A heat advisory is issued when the heat index, a computation of the air temperature and humidity, reaches 108 degrees for two consecutive days.

During a heat emergency, everyone is urged to take extra precaution to protect themselves from heat illness and death. High-risk groups such as adults age 55 and older, children under the age of five and people with chronic illness are urged to stay inside air-conditioned buildings between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., the hottest part of the day. Anyone living without air-conditioning can seek air-conditioned shelter at any City of Houston library, Parks and Recreation facility or Houston Department of Health and Human Services multi-service center.

People involved in outdoor labor or recreation should also consider altering their schedule to reduce heat exposure during the hottest part of the day. Prolonged heat exposure or strenuous physical activity may result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Outdoor workers should drink plenty of water or electrolyte replacement beverages and rest frequently in the shade or in an air-conditioned facility.

Houstonians needing transportation assistance to a city-cooling center may call 311 and ask for cooling centers. Transportation provided by Metro is available to 11 regional cooling centers. The cooling centers are:

Acres Homes Library, 8501 W. Montgomery Rd.

Mon 12PM-8PM; Tue 10AM-6PM; Wed-Sat 12PM-6PM

Alief Library, 7979 South Kirkwood

Mon& Wed 10AM-8PM; Tue & Thur 12PM-8PM; Fri 12PM-6PM; Sat 10AM-6PM

Blue Ridge, 7007 W. Fuqua

Mon12PM-8PM, Tu & Thur-Sat 12PM-6PM; Wed 10AM-6PM

Central Library, 500 McKinney

Mon-Thur 9AM-9PM, Fri & Sat 9AM-6PM; Sun 2 PM-6PM

Collier Library 6200 Pinemont

Mon & Wed 10AM-8PM; Tu & Thur 12PM-6PM; Fri 12PM-6PM; Sat 9AM-6PM

Morris Frank, 6440 W. Bellfort

Mon & Thur 12PM-8PM; Tue-Wed & Sat 10AM-6PM; Fri 12PM-6PM

Jungman Library, 5830 Westheimer

Mon &Thur 12PM-8PM; Tue-Wed & Sat 10AM-6PM; Fri 12PM-6PM

Montrose Library, 4100 Montrose Blvd

Mon & Thur 12PM-8PM; Tue-Wed & Sat 10AM-6PM; Fri 12PM-6PM

Robinson Westchase, 3223 Wilcrest

Mon & Thur 12PM-8PM; Tue-Wed & Sat 10AM-6PM; Fri 12PM-6PM

Stanaker Library 611 South Sgt. Macario Garcia Blvd.

Mon & Thur 12PM-8PM; Tue-Wed & Sat 10AM-6PM; Fri 12PM-6PM

Vinson Library 3100 West Fuqua

Mon & Thur 12PM-8PM; Tue-Wed & Sat 10AM-6PM; Fri 12PM-6PM

Five heat-related deaths, four in Houston and one in Harris County, have been reported to the Houston Department of Health and Human Services this year.