We're Building A Better Tri-State Together
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Excessive Heat Warnings Compel the Opening of Cooling Centers in the Tri-State Area

The lobby of the CK Newsome Center in Evansville is a cooling shelter during business hours.
Tim Jagielo
/
WNIN News
The lobby of the CK Newsome Center in Evansville is a cooling shelter during business hours.

While it’s 96 degrees outside and climbing, It is a cool 70 degrees or so inside the CK Newsome Center in Evansville.

Bottled water and light snacks are available and relaxing music plays overhead.

The city has made the lobby of the CK Newsome center available for anyone wishing to cool off in this heat. The National Weather service has issued an excessive heat warning for the entire tri-state area.

Steven Schaefer is the deputy mayor and interim parks director. He said lately people have preferred the city pools for cooling off.

“The pools have been packed this past week,” Schaefer said. “And, you know, we encourage people if they're not in a pool, or with a fan, please get inside during these alert days.”

If you’d rather stay dry, this building again is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week.

“CK Newsom center is managed by the Parks and Recreation Department,” Schaefer said. “Therefore, it's a public building. We wanted to make it accessible during heat-caused episodes.”

In this building — at their busiest, they’ve had up to 30 in the lobby, though few came on Thursday.

While there are no official cooling centers in Henderson, the Henderson Office of Emergency Management is suggesting the use of libraries and other public buildings for shelter from the heat.

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WNIN to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Give to grow our local reporting todayDonate now.