WASHINGTON — Need a place to cool off on a hot, summer day? Several local governments have designated public cooling centers for residents to find heat relief.
D.C.
The  has a for when the heat index hits 95 degrees.
Urging against the unauthorized use of fire hydrants, the plan has of general cooling centers, spray parks and pools. Spray parks are generally open Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Information about extended hours for pools and spray parks can be found .
The Department of Human Services will also open locations to specifically serve homeless people. Senior citizens who do not have access to air conditioning are also encouraged to go to specified public locations. Those in need of transportation to a cooling center can call their hotline at 1-800-535-7252.
Maryland
— Prince George’s County: A full list of this year’s cooling centers open to the public can be found on the . Weekday hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., but during weekend hours, residents should call facilities ahead of time to confirm hours. There are also senior centers available. are open during normal operating hours on weekends.
— Montgomery County: Although the county has , residents can find relief at libraries, pools, senior and recreation centers. Find a list of all of their public library locations and hours on . More information about their , and  can also be found on their website.
Virginia
— Fairfax County: The county government has listed , and the as cooling centers. Information about Fairfax County pools and recreation centers can be found . Residents should call ahead to check on operating hours.
— Arlington: Though they are not official cooling centers, residents can beat the heat in , , and even the with .
— Alexandria: Public facilities include , and .
EDITOR’S NOTE: ²ÝÝ®´«Ã½ will continue to update this page as more information and sites become available.
