Today’s heat falls into the category of a weather emergency. As with blizzards and flood-producing storms, Howard County Government is on high alert and communicating with the public.
Even though it goes without saying, this is no time to leave children or pets in your car.
If you are in need of a place to cool off:
- Howard County Recreation and Parks' Gary J. Arthur Community Center
- North Laurel Community Center
- Roger Carter Community Center (www.howardcountymd.gov/facilities)
- Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services' 50+ Centers (www.howardcountymd.gov/50pluscenters) are open.
- Howard County Library System branches
If you don’t have access to a car, how would you get there? Is there a web page or a printable map that specifically links Howard County’s official cooling centers with public transit? I don’t know. If I am very lucky, someone from the County will read this and fill me in. Hint, hint.
This would be a great day to break down and give those folks at the crossroads asking for money an iced cold bottle of water along with what cash you can spare. Delivery people and road workers could probably stand a cold drink as well. Of course you can’t cover the entire county. But, there’s a bunch of us. We could probably make a dent in it.
From the Howard County Department of Resources and Services:
Due to the predicted high heat this Sat., July 29, our Unity in the Community Resource Fair has been cancelled.
Please join us for our next fair scheduled for August 19th: https://www.facebook.com/events/310039051459271
One can only hope that August 19th will be cooler, or that an air conditioned venue will become available.
What about camps that are primarily outdoors? Do they have a backup plan for heat emergency days? If not, will you keep your child home?
Does the County set up an Emergency Operations center for high heat events the way they do with blizzards? That would be interesting to know. Sadly, the future probably holds more such days. We will have to get better at preparing and responding.
What do you do to beat the heat? When I was little, before home air conditioning was widespread, my mother would put us in a cool bath with lots of toys and even ice cubes. I’ve heard tell that popsicles were involved but I honestly don’t remember. When my older daughter was little we had one room air conditioner in the bedroom of our apartment. We borrowed lots of movie musicals from the library and stayed in that little bedroom with the a.c. on.
Have any tips, tricks, or advice?
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