UPDATE: With extreme heat remaining in the forecast, most Wake County libraries will continue to serve as cooling stations on Saturday, Sept. 5. Find a list of open libraries and their hours at wake.gov/coolingstations.
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The new month kicks off with another wave of heat, bringing dangerous temperatures to our area. The heat indexes will surpass triple digits through Friday, Sept. 4, prompting cooling station activation across the County at regional centers and local libraries.
"September is here, but the summer temperatures are not letting up just yet," said Josh Creighton, deputy director of Wake County Fire Services and Emergency Management. "As the heat continues, it's important to keep heat safety front of mind even when fall comes around."
Wake County activates cooling stations during prolonged periods of extreme high temperatures, which is defined as:
- Three consecutive days with heat index values of more than 100
- Heat Advisory (Heat Index 105–109) for two consecutive days
- Excessive Heat Warning (Heat Index >= 110) for any period
Cooling Station Schedule
Wake County Public Libraries
Tuesday–Friday
Closing times for libraries vary, so visitors should check our Libraries' location page or call their local library for site-specific information.
Regional Centers and Health and Human Services Centers
Tuesday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.:
- Social Services Building, 220 Swinburne St., Raleigh
- Departure Regional Center, 5809 Departure Drive, Raleigh
- Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon
- Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
- Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina
- Western Human Services Center, 111 James Jackson Ave., Cary
Sites that are not normally open to the public, such as EMS stations, fire stations and county fleet maintenance buildings, will not be available as cooling stations.
Cool for Wake
Cool for Wake is a seasonal program that provides free fans and air conditioning units to eligible residents during the summer months.
Households without air conditioning where a child, older adult or person with a disability live are eligible for help.
Visit wake.gov/coolforwake to learn more. Call 919-212-7083 or email CoolForWake@wake.gov to get connected.
Staying Safe in Extreme Heat
Adults older than 65, children younger than 4, people with existing medical conditions and those without access to air conditioning are at the greatest risk on days with high temperatures.
To stay safe and cool during extreme heat, residents are encouraged to:
- Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
- Familiarize themselves with the medical conditions that can result from over-exposure to heat, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and take frequent breaks.
- Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
