Cooling center activated for heat
Due to anticipated excessive heat, as defined by www.weather.gov, the City of Madera Cooling Center is tentatively scheduled to open Monday-Wednesday at the Pan American Community Center (703 Sherwood Way) from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Cooling centers are available on weekdays only. Days of activation vary depending on weather conditions.
COVID-19 measures will still be in affect. Participants are required to wear a face-covering.
Before entry, participants will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19. Participants who display symptoms of COVID-19, who are awaiting results from a recent COVID-19 test, or who have recently come into contact with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19 will not be permitted entry.
Total numbers will not be allowed to exceed 12 participants at any given time. If the demand is greater, additional cooling center locations will be activated.
The center will also be frequently sanitized.
Madera Metro will offer rides to accommodate those in need of transportation to local cooling centers between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Board any route 1 bus and let the driver know you are headed to a cooling center. For Dial-A-Ride (as available only), riders must advise dispatch when scheduling pick-up that they desire to be taken to a cooling center. Residents may contact Dial-A-Ride at 661-7433.
Cooling centers are open to the public and meant to provide relief for those who otherwise do not have access to an air-conditioned environment. The City of Madera urges residents to take steps to protect against heat-related illnesses. These illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, occur when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. Children, senior adults, and people with chronic illnesses are at the highest risk. For more information on staying cool during times of extreme heat, please see Pacific Gas & Electric’s Summer Safety Tips page.
City officials monitor weather conditions and may call for activation of cooling centers at any time that temperatures are forecast to meet or exceed 105 degrees or if temperatures are expected to meet or exceed 100 degrees for two or more consecutive days.
The public can refer to the City’s website, www.madera.gov, to confirm Cooling Center activation. Additionally, residents with questions regarding cooling centers may contact the City of Madera’s Department of Parks and Community Services at 661-5495. The City’s Cooling Centers are made possible through grant funds from Pacific Gas & Electric Company.
