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The city of Houston reactivated its heat emergency plan Wednesday and it will be in place through Sunday as extreme heat is expected in the region.
The reactivation of the plan comes as the National Weather Service expects the heat index to reach as high as 109 degrees through Sunday, according to a city of Houston media release. The city activates its emergency plan when the heat index reaches above 108 degrees for two consecutive days.
City of Houston libraries and community centers will operate as cooling centers for people during normal business hours. The Central Library downtown will not be available as a cooling center during this time.
Houston Parks and Recreation Department’s community centers will operate as cooling centers after the completion of activities each day.
Cooling centers available on Sunday:
- Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, 6719 W. Montgomery Road
- Sunnyside Multi-Service Center, 4410 Reed Road
- Moody Community Center, 3725 Fulton St.
If you need a ride to a cooling center, dial 311 for transportation to and from the location. People can also dial 311 to determine which cooling center or air-conditioned facility is nearest to them.
Before heading outdoors, drink plenty of water and set reminders to drink water every two to four hours.
Exercising in the heat can lead to dizziness, weakness and heat exhaustion. Signs you need to cool off in an air-conditioned environment include nausea, headaches and a rapid pulse.
Further pushing oneself can lead to heatstroke, which can cause organ damage or death. Heat stroke is when your body can no longer cool itself and your perspiration system fails, causing body temperatures to rise up to 106 degrees or higher within 15 minutes.
For tips on tackling the summer heat, check out the Landing’s guide on protecting yourself and pets when outdoors.
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