With the possibility of excessive heat in the weather forecast for this weekend and early next week, Cumberland County and the city of Fayetteville will make several facilities available as cooling stations for people who do not have access to air conditioning, according to a county news release.
The National Weather Service in Raleigh is forecasting temperatures as high as 108 degrees on Monday and heat indices as high as 110 degrees Saturday through Tuesday, the release said.
The Cumberland County Department of Social Services, 1225 Ramsey St., will open its auxiliary lobby as a cooling station from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All public lobbies will be open. Masks or face coverings are encouraged for those with preexisting conditions.
The Social Services offices will be closed on Tuesday.
The first-floor lobby of the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, 1235 Ramsey St., will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Masks or face coverings are required in some areas and for anyone who has recently had a COVID-19 infection or close contact with someone who had COVID. People with preexisting conditions are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering.
The Health Department will be closed on Tuesday for the July Fourth holiday.
All eight Cumberland County Public Library locations will be open as cooling stations from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane and the Cliffdale, North Regional, and Hope Mills branches also are open from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
All libraries will close at 6 p.m. Monday and will be closed Tuesday for the July Fourth holiday.
To find a local library, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.
The lobbies of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks & Recreation centers are open to the public year-round and can be used as respite from the heat. Recreation center locations, hours, contact information and programming schedules are posted at fcpr.us/facilities/recreation-centers/.
Recreation centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the July Fourth holiday.
The lobby of the Fayetteville Area System of Transit, 505 Franklin St., is also open to the public. Hours are posted at FAST hours. Transit offices will be closed Tuesday for the holiday.
Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working outdoors, the news release said. Cumberland County Emergency Services reminds residents to take precautions during hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, avoid strenuous work, check on relatives and neighbors, and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, the news release said.
