July 12, 2023

HOUSTON - The City of Houston is re-activating its Public Health Heat Emergency Plan, providing resources for people to take refuge from extreme heat Wednesday (July 12) through Sunday (July 16).

Houston libraries and multi-service centers will function as cooling centers during normal business hours. The Central Library downtown is unavailable as a cooling center. Community centers operated by Houston Parks and Recreation Department will open to the public after the conclusion of daily programming for enrolled participants. 

Anyone without air-conditioning can seek shelter at any of the following city buildings designated as cooling centers during the heat emergency. The following locations will open from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 16.

• Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery Rd.  
• Sunnyside Multi-Service Center, 4410 Reed Rd.
• Moody Community Center, 3725 Fulton St.

The YMCA of Greater Houston will also provide a resource for people needing to seek relief.

The National Weather Service predicts heat index values will reach as high as 109 through Sunday.

The City of Houston activates its Public Health Heat Emergency Plan when the Houston area begins to experience excessive heat. It activates the plan when a heat advisory or an excessive heat warning is expected to last two or more consecutive days.

People without adequate transportation to a designated cooling center can call 3-1-1 to request a free ride. Transportation is only to and from the cooling centers; transportation to other locations is unavailable.

The Houston Health Department recommends the precautions below to avoid heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

• Increase water consumption. Drink lots of liquids even before getting thirsty, but avoid beverages with caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar because these can result in the loss of body fluid.
• Conduct outdoor work or exercise in the early morning or evening when temperatures are not as high. Outdoor workers should drink plenty of water or electrolyte replacement beverages and take frequent breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned facility. People unaccustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment need to start slowly and gradually increase heat exposure over several weeks.
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that permits the evaporation of perspiration.
• Do not leave infants, children, senior citizens or pets unattended in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are cracked open. Check to make sure everyone is out of the car and don’t overlook children who may have fallen asleep.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat to help prevent sunburn as well as heat-related illness. Apply sunscreen, which protects from the sun’s harmful rays and reduces the risk of sunburn.
• Seek accommodations in air-conditioned facilities during the heat of the day if the house is not air-conditioned: a relative’s home, multi-service centers, malls, movie theaters, libraries, etc.
• Take frequent cool baths or showers if your home is not air-conditioned.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include weakness, dizziness, excessive sweating, cool or moist skin, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, and a fast and weak pulse. People experiencing these symptoms should lower their body temperature by getting to a cooler place, drinking water, taking a cool shower or bath and resting.

A throbbing headache, red, hot, and dry skin (no longer sweating), extremely high body temperature (above 103°), nausea or vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness and a rapid, strong pulse are signs of heat stroke. If these symptoms occur, call 9-1-1 immediately and try to lower the person’s body temperature until help arrives.

Library location and hours through Saturday are listed below or can be found online at www.HoustonLibrary.org.
 
Wednesday, July 12, till 8 p.m.
 
Acres Homes Library
8501 West Montgomery
Houston, TX 77088
 
Blue Ridge Library          
7007 West Fugua
Houston, TX 77489
 
Bracewell Library
9002 Kingspoint Drive
Houston, TX 77075
 
Carnegie Library              
1050 Quitman
Houston, TX  77009
 
Frank Express Library
10103 Fondren (inside Brays Oaks Towers)
Houston, TX 77096
 
Hillendahl Library           
2436 Gessner
Houston, TX 77080
 
Johnson Library
3517 Reed Rd
Houston, TX 77051
 
Jungman Library             
5830 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77057
 
Kashmere Gardens Library         
5411 Pardee
Houston, TX 77026

Looscan Neighborhood Library
2510 Willowick Rd.
Houston, TX 77027

Oak Forest Library          
1349 West 43rd
Houston, TX 77018
 
Smith Library    
3624 Scott
Houston, TX 77004
 
Stanaker Library              
611 S. Sgt Macario Garcia
Houston, TX 77011
 
Tuttle Library   
702 Kress
Houston, TX 77020
 
Walter Library  
7660 Clarewood
Houston, TX 77036
 
Thursday, July 13, till 8 p.m.
 
Stella Link Regional Library         
7405 Stella Link
Houston, TX 77025
 
Alief Regional Library
11903 Bellaire Blvd.
Houston, TX 77072
 
Collier Regional Library
6200 Pinemont
Houston, TX 77092
 
Heights Library
1302 Heights Blvd.
Houston, TX 77008
 
Kendall Neighborhood Library
609 N Eldridge Pkwy.
Houston, TX 77079
 
Park Place Regional Library
8145 Park Place
Houston, TX 77017
 
Robinson-Westchase Library     
3223 Wilcrest
Houston, TX 77042
 
Scenic Woods Regional Library 
10677 Homestead Rd.
Houston, TX 77016
 
Young Library   
5107 Griggs Rd
Houston, TX 77021
 
TECHLink Alief
11903 Bellaire Blvd
Houston, TX 77072
 
TECHLink Dixon Library
8002 Hirsch
Houston, TX 77016
 
TECHLink Scenic Woods
10677 Homestead Rd.
Houston, TX 77016

The following library locations are open Friday, July 14, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, July 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

Stella Link Regional Library         
7405 Stella Link
Houston, TX 77025
 
Alief-David M. Henington Regional Library
11903 Bellaire Blvd,
Houston, TX 77072
 
Collier Regional Library
6200 Pinemont Dr.
Houston, TX 77092
 
Heights Neighborhood Library
1302 Heights Blvd.
Houston, TX 77008
 
Kendall Neighborhood Library
609 N Eldridge Pkwy.
Houston, TX 77079
 
Park Place Regional Library
8145 Park Place
Houston, TX 77017
 
Robinson-Westchase Library    
3223 Wilcrest
Houston, TX 77042
 
Scenic Woods Regional Library
10677 Homestead Rd.
Houston, TX 77016
 
Young Library  
5107 Griggs Rd
Houston, TX 77021
 
Acres Homes Library
8501 West Montgomery
Houston, TX 77088
 
Blue Ridge Library          
7007 West Fugua
Houston, TX 77489
 
Bracewell Library
9002 Kingspoint Drive
Houston, TX 77075
 
Carnegie Library              
1050 Quitman
Houston, TX  77009
 
Frank Express Library
10103 Fondren (inside Brays Oaks Towers)
Houston, TX 77096

Hillendahl Library           
2436 Gessner
Houston, TX 77080
 
Johnson Library
3517 Reed Rd
Houston, TX 77051

Jungman Library             
5830 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77057
 
Kashmere Gardens Library         
5411 Pardee
Houston, TX 77026

Looscan Neighborhood Library
2510 Willowick Rd.
Houston, TX 77027
 
Oak Forest Library         
1349 West 43rd
Houston, TX 77018
 
Smith Library   
3624 Scott
Houston, TX 77004
 
Stanaker Library             
611 S. Sgt Macario Garcia
Houston, TX 77011
 
Tuttle Library  
702 Kress
Houston, TX 77020
 
Walter Library 
7660 Clarewood
Houston, TX 77036
 
Flores Neighborhood Library
110 North Milby St.
Houston, TX 77003
 
Vinson Neighborhood Library
3810 West Fuqua St.
Houston, TX 77045
 
TECHLink Alief
11903 Bellaire Blvd
Houston, TX 77072
 
TECHLink Dixon Library
8002 Hirsch
Houston, TX 77016
 
TECHLink Scenic Woods
10677 Homestead Rd.
Houston, TX 77016
 
The Houston History Research Center is open, Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., African American History Research Center at Gregory School, Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the Family History Research Center at Clayton Campus, Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 
People may seek air-conditioning in city multi-service centers and libraries during normal business hours. Gymnasiums are open Monday through Friday 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and non-gymnasiums from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

To find the nearest cooling center location or an air-conditioned city facility, people can call 3-1-1 for more information.