Sonoma County and cities set up cooling centers for days of high heat

Due to another period of anticipated high heat on Monday and Tuesday and the possibility of more rolling power outages, the County of Sonoma will be opening two cooling centers for residents needing refuge from the heat. The cities of Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Healdsburg also will be opening centers in their communities.

The County centers will be open on Monday, August 17,2020  and on Tuesday, August 18, 2020  from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:

• The Cloverdale Senior Center located at 311 N. Main Street in Cloverdale.

• Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building located at 126 1st Street West in Sonoma. 

The cities of Santa Rosa, Petaluma and Healdsburg also will be opening cooling stations: 

• Santa Rosa will be opening two cooling centers on Monday and Tuesday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day – one at the Rincon Valley Library at 6959 Montecito Blvd. and the other at the Salvation Army Senior Center at 115 Pierce St. The City of Santa Rosa will continue to monitor conditions through the week to determine if cooling centers will be needed for additional days beyond Monday and Tuesday. Visit the Santa Rosa Emergency website for further details on Santa Rosa’s cooling centers.

• Petaluma’s cooling station will be located at the Petaluma Community Center at 320 North McDowell Blvd. and will be open from noon to 7 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday.
• The City of Healdsburg will open two cooling centers on Monday through Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The centers will be located at City Hall Council Chambers at 401 Grove St. and at the Healdsburg Senior Center at 133 Matheson St.

Please be advised of the following precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic:

• All who enter the County cooling centers will be subject to a COVID-19 screening process, which will include temperature checks and completion of a questionnaire.

• All cooling centers will adhere to guidelines from the state Department of Public Health and will be set up to maintain social distancing. Those entering the stations will be required to wear face coverings.

In addition to issuing a red flag warning that will be in effect through 11 a.m. on Monday, the National Weather Service is expected to issue another heat advisory for Sonoma County beginning on Monday at 11 a.m. and lasting until 9 p.m. Similar warnings may follow as high temperatures are expected to continue through Wednesday.

The County of Sonoma and Emergency Response partners remind the public that excessive heat poses a significant health risk, particularly to the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with chronic diseases. Heat-related illnesses range from cramps and heat exhaustion to heat stroke and, in extreme cases, even death. Warning signs of heat-related illness include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, tiredness or dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache or weakness.

While it remains critical for everyone to practice safe social distancing and to avoid large groups during this COVID-19 pandemic, the County encourages individuals to take what immediate actions are needed - such as visiting cooling stations or going to a neighbor's air-conditioned home - to protect their health and safety during this period of high heat.

However, if you do seek shelter outside of your home, continue to wear face coverings and stay at least six feet apart from others.If you have symptoms or are COVID-19 positive, do not relocate to one of these alternate sites but call your health care provider instead.

To check the temperature in your area, please visit the National Weather Service website for updated information.

With respect to COVID-19, all cooling centers should follow guidance provided by the California Department of Public Health here: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/GuidanceforCoolingCenters.aspx.

Protect yourself and those around you by following these guidelines:

• Drink – Drink plenty of cool fluids, even if you are not physically active and even if you are not thirsty. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.
• Dress – Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Add a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher).
• Decrease – Limit physical activity, and stay indoors in an air-conditioned space. If you must be physically active, lower your intensity and take frequent rest breaks in the shade.
• Defend – If you must do work outside, try to schedule it during the early mornings or evenings after it has cooled down. During the heat of the day, stay in shaded areas. Monitor coworkers and ask them to do the same for you. Check on the elderly, infants and young children frequently. Check on those with chronic illnesses or those who are on medication.
• Demonstrate – Use common sense. Make sure animals and pets have plenty of fresh water and shade. Consider bringing pets inside and consider wetting down outside animals.
• Don’t – Do not leave any person or pet in a parked car for any length of time for any reason. And be sure to check on the welfare of your neighbors.

For more detailed information on how to take care of yourself during high heat, visit the SoCoEmergency.org heat page: https://socoemergency.org/prepare/local-hazards/heat-advisories/

For weather information, visit the Bay Area National Weather Service (NWS) page below:
NWS San Francisco Bay Area Weather Map: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?zoneid=CAZ506