Updated Sept. 6, 4:05 p.m.
Northern California is facing a prolonged heat wave, prompting Sacramento County officials to open cooling centers for its residents looking to avoid potentially dangerous temperatures.
Highs are forecasted to exceed 111 degrees, National Weather Service meteorologist Katrina Hand told CapRadio.
Here’s a list of cooling centers opening in the Sacramento area this week.
City of Sacramento cooling center
The city of Sacramento is opening the Auburn Boulevard Outreach and Engagement Center starting on Sept. 1. This is the second time it has opened in recent weeks — the center was last activated on Aug. 14 and ran for five days as temperatures in the region reached triple digits.
Last month, the Sacramento City Council unanimously voted to allow the center to open as a respite center regardless of weather conditions. City code previously stipulated that it could only be used when the National Weather Service issued a heat advisory.
The center has space for up to 50 people and their pets, according to a city news release, and will also provide water and snacks. It is not yet prepared to house overnight guests, but the city has plans to convert the facility into a full-time respite center with overnight housing soon.
City officials told CapRadio that between seven and 10 people have accessed the Auburn Boulevard Outreach and Engagement Center each day since it opened on Sept. 1.
Sacramento spokesperson Gregg Fishman says the city wants more people to use local respite centers.
“Not only is it really intensely hot during the middle of the day, it’s not cooling off very much at night,” Fishman said. “So it’s difficult for people to sleep and it makes it hard for people to live.”
DATES OPEN: Sept. 1 through Sept. 9
LOCATION: Auburn Boulevard Outreach and Engagement Center, 3615 Auburn Boulevard
HOURS: 10 a.m. to midnight
Sacramento County cooling centers
Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance (DHA) is opening three cooling centers starting on Sept. 1 which will run through this week, according to a news release from the county.
Masks are required at these facilities and will be provided to all visitors. The county says that snacks and water will be provided at all cooling centers.
The DHA says it will also start outreach for the Weather Respite Motel Sheltering program, which allows unhoused residents to stay in hotels during severe weather. The department first activated this program in January 2021 in response to an extreme winter storm.
Participants in the Weather Respite Motel Sheltering program will be given vouchers to stay at county hotels with check-ins starting on Wednesday and check-outs ending on September 8, and can bring partners, pets and possessions with them, according to the county.
On Sept. 6, Sacramento County announced a partnership with Sacramento Regional Transit, providing free rides to cooling center locations within the county through Thursday.
DATES OPEN: Sept. 1 - 9
LOCATIONS:
DHA Annex, 1725 28th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816
DHA Customer Service Center, 2450 Florin Road, Sacramento, CA 95822
DHA Customer Service Center, 5747 Watt Avenue, North Highlands, CA 95660
HOURS:
Sept. 1 and Sept. 2: Offices are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., extended hours for weather respite are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sept. 3 through Sept. 5: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Sept. 6 through Sept. 9: Offices are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., extended hours for weather respite are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Elk Grove cooling center
The city of Elk Grove is preparing to open a cooling center starting Thursday. The city says they plan to use two different facilities over the course of nearly a week, and both facilities will provide water, air conditioning and seating. Pets will not be accommodated at either facility. Masks are required and will be provided for all visitors.
DATES OPEN: Sept. 1 - 9
LOCATIONS:
Sept. 4 through Sept. 8: The Center at District56, 8230 Civic Center Drive
Sept. 9: Wackford Community Center, 9014 Bruceville Road
HOURS: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Folsom cooling center
The city of Folsom is opening a cooling center starting Friday at the Folsom Public Library. Water and air conditioning will be provided, and the city says pets are allowed as long as they are secured in a carrier or on a leash.
DATES OPEN: Sept. 2 - 9
LOCATION: Meeting room inside Folsom Public Library, 411 Stafford Street
HOURS:
Sept. 2, 3, 6 and 9: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sept. 4 and Sept. 5: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Rancho Cordova cooling center
The city of Rancho Cordova is opening its City Hall as a cooling center starting on Thursday. Water will be provided, but pets will not be accommodated at the facility, according to a news release from the city.
DATES OPEN: Sept. 1 - 8
LOCATION: Rancho Cordova City Hall, 2729 Prospect Park Drive
HOURS: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Steve Milne contributed to this report.
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