Scorching heat sends locals out to cool off

As temperatures rose to above the 100 mark last weekend,
residents headed out to find any which way to cool off. Some waded
into the river, others played in the pool and some just settled
onto a park bench in the shade.
And thanks to the Healdsburg Senior Center and the Healdsburg
Fire Department, local residents will have one more place to cool
off when extreme temperatures hit this summer.
The Senior Center, in conjunction with HFD, will be extending
its hours and offering a place of refuge at its location when a
heat emergency is declared from the federal, state, or local
government.
HFD Fire Chief Randy Collins contacted Healdsburg Senior Center
Director Sonja Drown last year to see if she wanted provide a
“cooling shelter” for the public to go to when temperatures became
dangerously high.
Drown jumped on board right away.
“She ran with it and made it happen,” Collins said.
Three cooling shelters, or air-conditioned environments, were
set up last summer.
The Healdsburg Senior Center offered refuge for the first time
this summer on June 28.
Through Collins’ discretion, the center was opened on the 28th
because temperatures were expected to reach 107 degrees. Collins
said 105 degrees is generally the “trigger point” for offering the
center to the public for extended hours.
“There is always going to be a susceptible population, people
that are young and the elderly,” Collins said. “A great deal of the
population would use it.”
“We always encourage (people) if they’re hot they’re welcome to
come and cool off,” Drown said.
In a heat emergency, the Senior Center’s hours will be extended
to 7 p.m. on weekdays and will also be extended during the weekend
for the public. Drown said residents are of course welcome to come
into the center during normal operating hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday, when they desire.
Residents that come by will sign in and provide basic emergency
information for the center. People will be able to hang out in the
dining room of the center and be provided ice water. Books,
puzzles, and games will also be available.
A CERT, or Community Emergency Response Team, will also be
overseeing the center in conjunction with HFD. Eleven CERT members
are currently being used this summer.
Due to space limitations, visitors are asked to bring no more
than one small tote and daypack per person. Animals are not
permitted unless they are assistive animals for disabled
visitors.
Those wishing to use the center when hours are extended are
asked to contact the center. The center will put their name and
phone number down and notify them when the center extends its hours
this summer.
“I want people to think of this place as an escape where they
can come,” Drown said.
If interested, contact the Senior Center at 431-3324.