HOUSTON — The City of Houston reactivated its Heat Emergency Plan through Aug. 27 and also opened several cooling centers in the area.
According to the city, Houston Public Libraries and multi-service centers will serve as cooling centers during this time, with the exception of the Central Library downtown. Additionally, the YMCA of Greater Houston is opening its doors to those who need relief from the dangerous heat at their various locations.
The following locations are open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27:
- Acres Homes Multi-Service Center - 6719 W. Montgomery Rd.
- Sunnyside Multi-Service Center - 4410 Reed Rd.
- Moody Community Center - 3725 Fulton St.
Community centers operated by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department will open to the public after the conclusion of daily programming for enrolled participants.
Here is a list of multi-service centers in the area:
Acres Homes Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 6719 W. Montgomery Rd.
- Houston, Texas 77091-3105
Alief Neighborhood Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 11903 Bellaire Blvd.
- Houston, Texas 77072-2310
Denver Harbor Multi-service Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 6402 Market St.
- Houston, Texas 77020-6840
Fifth Ward Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 4014 Market St.
- Houston, Texas 77020-4129
Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 3810 W. Fuqua St.
- Houston, Texas 77045-6402
Kashmere Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 4802 Lockwood Drive
- Houston, Texas 77026-2941
Magnolia Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 7037 Capitol St.
- Houston, Texas 77011-4643
Northeast Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 9720 Spaulding St.
- Houston, Texas 77016-4841
Southwest Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 6400 High Star Dr.
- Houston, Texas 77074-5006
Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- 4410 Reed Road
- Houston, Texas 77051-2718
Third Ward Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 3611 Ennis St.
- Houston, Texas 77004-4407
West End Multi-Service Center
- Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- 170 Heights Blvd.
- Houston, Texas 77020-3729
Bay Area Community Center
- 5002 East NASA Parkway
- Seabrook, TX 77586
- 281-326-2955
Leonel J. Castillo Community Center
- 2101 South St.
- Houston, TX 77009
- 713-274-2222
East Harris County Activity Center
- 7340 Spencer Hwy.
- Pasadena, TX 77505
- 281-479-4232
Mangum-Howell Community Center
- 2500 Frick Rd.
- Houston, TX 77038
- 281-591-7830
Felix Baldree Community Center
- 13828 Corpus Christi St.
- Houston, TX 77015
- 713-455-3660
Martin Flukinger Community Center
- 16003 Lorenzo St.
- Channelview, TX 77530
- 713-274-2132
Hardy Community Center
- 11901 West Hardy Rd.
- Houston, TX 77076
- 281-260-6772
Moody Community Center
- Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- 3735 Fulton Street
- Houston, TX 77009
- 832-395-7645
North East Harris County Community Center
- 10918 1/2 Bentley St.
- Houston, TX 77093
- 281-442-7950
JD Walker Community Center
- 7613 Wade Rd.
- Baytown, TX 77521
- 281-426-3551
Pep Mueller Activity Center
- 14750 Henry Rd.
- Houston, TX 77060
- 713-274-7275
You can find an interactive map of cooling centers on the city's website.
In extreme heat, it is important to protect yourself from heat-related illnesses. Those considered to be high risk such as adults ages 55 and older, children younger than 4, and people with chronic illness or who are either overweight or on certain medications should stay inside air-conditioned buildings between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., the hottest part of the day.
The Houston Health Department recommends people protect themselves and their families from potentially deadly heat-related illnesses. It recommends people:
- Drink more water. 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 911 immediately and try to lower the person’s body temperature until help arrives.
