June 30, 2023
HOUSTON – A majority of Houston’s public libraries will open on Saturday so people without air conditioning can take refuge from the heat. The YMCA of Greater Houston will also open its locations as cooling centers.
The libraries will open during their regular Saturday business hours. The Central Library downtown is unavailable as a cooling center.
The National Weather Service predicts that Saturday heat index values will reach as high as 109.
The City of Houston activated its Public Health Heat Emergency Plan on June 14 when the Houston area began experiencing excessive heat. It activates the plan when a heat advisory or an excessive heat warning is expected to last two or more consecutive days.
People without adequate transportation to a City of Houston designated cooling center during a heat emergency can call 3-1-1 to request a free ride. Transportation is only to and from the city cooling centers; transportation to other locations is unavailable.
While weather forecasts call for slightly lower temperatures and heat indices starting Sunday, the Houston Health Department urges people continue following the safety precautions below to avoid heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Drink more water. Drink lots of liquids even before getting thirsty, but avoid beverages with caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar because these can result in the loss of body fluid.
- Conduct outdoor work or exercise in the early morning or evening when temperatures are not as high. Outdoor workers should drink plenty of water or electrolyte replacement beverages and take frequent breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned facility. People unaccustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment need to start slowly and gradually increase heat exposure over several weeks.
- Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing that permits the evaporation of perspiration.
- Do not leave infants, children, senior citizens or pets unattended in a parked vehicle, even if the windows are cracked open. Check to make sure everyone is out of the car and don’t overlook children who may have fallen asleep.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat to help prevent sunburn as well as heat-related illness. Apply sunscreen, which protects from the sun’s harmful rays and reduces the risk of sunburn.
- Seek accommodations in air-conditioned facilities during the heat of the day if the house is not air-conditioned: a relative’s home, multi-service centers, malls, movie theaters, libraries, etc.
- Take frequent cool baths or showers if your home is not air-conditioned.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include weakness, dizziness, excessive sweating, cool or moist skin, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, and a fast and weak pulse. People experiencing these symptoms should lower their body temperature by getting to a cooler place, drinking water, taking a cool shower or bath and resting.
A throbbing headache, red, hot, and dry skin (no longer sweating), extremely high body temperature (above 103°), nausea or vomiting, confusion, loss of consciousness and a rapid, strong pulse are signs of heat stroke. If these symptoms occur, call 9-1-1 immediately and try to lower the person’s body temperature until help arrives.
Libraries open Saturday are listed below. Open library locations and their hours of operation also are available online at www.HoustonLibrary.org.
Acres Homes Library
8501 West Montgomery
Houston, TX 77088
Alief Regional Library
11903 Bellaire Blvd.
Houston, TX 77072
Blue Ridge Library
7007 West Fugua
Houston, TX 77489
Bracewell Library
9002 Kingspoint Drive
Houston, TX 77075
Carnegie Library
1050 Quitman
Houston, TX 77009
Family History Research Center at the Clayton Campus
5300 Caroline
Houston, TX 77004
Collier Regional Library
6200 Pinemont
Houston, TX 77092
Flores Library
110 North Milby
Houston, TX 77003
Frank Express Library
10103 Fondren (inside Brays Oaks Towers)
Houston, TX 77096
African American History Research Center at the Gregory School
1300 Victor
Houston, TX 77019
Heights Library
1302 Heights Blvd.
Houston, TX 77008
Hillendahl Library
2436 Gessner
Houston, TX 77080
Johnson Library
3517 Reed Rd
Houston, TX 77051
Jungman Library
5830 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77057
Kashmere Gardens Library
5411 Pardee
Houston, TX 77026
Kendall Library
609 N. Eldridge
Houston, TX 77079
Looscan Library
2510 Willowick
Houston, TX 77028
Oak Forest Library
1349 West 43rd
Houston, TX 77018
Park Place Regional Library
8145 Park Place
Houston, TX 77017
Robinson-Westchase Library
3223 Wilcrest
Houston, TX 77042
Scenic Woods Regional Library
10677 Homestead Rd.
Houston, TX 77016
Smith Library
3624 Scott
Houston, TX 77004
Stanaker Library
611 S. Sgt Macario Garcia
Houston, TX 77011
Stella Link Regional Library
7405 Stella Link
Houston, TX 77025
TECHLink Dixon Library
8002 Hirsch
Houston, TX 77016
Tuttle Library
702 Kress
Houston, TX 77020
Vinson Library
3810 West Fuqua
Houston, TX 77045
Walter Library
7660 Clarewood
Houston, TX 77036
Young Library
5107 Griggs Rd
Houston, TX 77021
People may seek air conditioning in city multi-service centers, libraries and recreation centers during regular business hours, even when the Public Health Heat Emergency Plan is not activated. To find the nearest cooling center location or an air-conditioned city facility, people can call 3-1-1 for more information.