Reno Social Services Prepare For Record Heat Wave

UPDATE, July 15:

Temperatures reached 103 degrees in Reno Sunday while Monday's high was 105 -- beating by two degrees the previous record for 1972. 

Catholic Charities has been opening its food service early to help hungry people beat the heat. But Charities Case Manager Carlos Garillo says many people he sees need more than food. They need financial help.

"The power goes up and so basically they can't pay the power bill and they try to ask for assistance," says Garillo. "Another assistance they request is if we can get them a fan or some kind of air conditioning unit. Because most of the people that are homeless or stay in a hotel room that do not provide any air conditioning." 

Garillo says he gets a half-dozen requests a day from people who need financial help because of the heat. Reno area highs Tuesday will be in the mid-to-upper 90s.

Monday, July 14

Reno is expected to hit record temperatures today and social service organizations are preparing.

Temperatures in Reno were forecast to hit 104 degrees today. That would break a record set in 1972. Social service organizations have been preparing for the heat.

Volunteers of America says it has spent extra time cleaning homeless shelters because of expected high demand. Also, about a half dozen people a day are coming into Catholic Charities in downtown Reno looking for fans and help paying energy bills. The charity has opened kitchens early so that some of the 500 people that come in daily for food can get fed before it gets hot. Homeless man Frank, who would only give his first name, came to the shelter at about 9 AM to cool off and has a plan.

"We are blessed with a real beautiful river here in Reno. We just go down and splash around. It is terrific."

He says there is plenty of available water and shade down by the river. Washoe County Senior Services sees fewer clients on hot days because most people stay home.