By Hola Nebraska
The Salvation Army will keep two cooling centers open Monday through Thursday with air conditioning, cold bottled water and places to charge phones as heat index values could reach 110°F across the metro area.
The Salvation Army in Omaha will open two cooling centers this week for people who need relief from several days of heat and humidity across the metro area.
The centers will be open Monday through Thursday at Heritage Place, 3612 Cuming St., and North Corps, 2401 Manderson St.
Heritage Place will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. North Corps will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The centers will offer air-conditioned spaces, cold bottled water during operating hours and access to charge phones or other electronic devices. Both locations will be open to anyone who needs relief from the heat.
The openings come as Omaha, Bellevue, La Vista, Papillion and other parts of Douglas County and Sarpy County remain under an extreme heat warning. The National Weather Service has the alert in effect for the Omaha metro area until Tuesday at 9 p.m., with heat index values up to 110°F.
Cooling center hours in Omaha
Heritage Place
3612 Cuming St.
Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
North Corps
2401 Manderson St.
Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Services available at the cooling centers
- Air conditioning
- Cold bottled water
- Space to charge phones and electronic devices
- Open access to the public
Omaha will continue to face dangerous heat
Dangerous heat will continue Monday and Tuesday across the region, with extreme heat warnings and heat advisories in effect as heat index values rise into the 105°F to 112°F range.
For Monday, temperatures could reach the mid to upper 90s. Some areas could approach 100°F. High humidity will make conditions feel heavier during the afternoon.
The extreme heat warning for Douglas County and Sarpy County includes Omaha, Bellevue, La Vista and Papillion. It also covers parts of southwest Iowa, including Council Bluffs, Glenwood, Red Oak and other nearby communities.
Heat-related illnesses increase significantly during periods of extreme heat and high humidity. Nights will bring little relief: overnight heat index values could remain in the upper 70s, making it harder for homes without air conditioning to cool down.
The heat could persist through the week. The regional forecast also keeps temperatures in the 90s over the coming days, with daily chances of rain or storms in parts of the area.
People without air conditioning may face higher risk
Cooling centers offer an immediate option for people who spend several hours in homes without air conditioning, older adults, families with young children, outdoor workers and residents who do not have a cool place during the day.
The risk increases when the body cannot cool down because of the combination of temperature and humidity. Prolonged exposure can lead to cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
During extreme heat warnings, closed vehicles can become dangerous within minutes. The National Weather Service warns that young children and pets should not be left unattended in parked cars, where temperatures can quickly become deadly.
In Omaha, the Salvation Army centers will be available during the busiest daytime hours. For people who work outdoors, make deliveries, work in construction, landscaping or maintenance, or spend extended time in the sun, access to water, shade and breaks can reduce the risk of heat illness.
Heat arrives ahead of the Fourth of July weekend
The alert comes during a busy summer week as Fourth of July preparations get underway. Extreme heat could affect outdoor plans, work schedules, travel, family activities and community events.
The combination of heat and humidity can feel more intense in areas with pavement, parking lots, commercial zones and neighborhoods with limited shade. In those conditions, the temperature felt by the body can be much higher than the temperature shown on the thermometer.
Hot conditions are expected to continue through the week. For the Omaha area, the most dangerous heat is concentrated mainly between Monday and Tuesday, although temperatures will remain high after the warning ends.
The Salvation Army cooling centers in Omaha will be open Monday through Thursday at Heritage Place and North Corps.
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