Need to beat the heat? Las Vegas announced today it is opening a cooling station and a place to sleep for those in need.
The city will open the station at Dula Gymnasium, 441 E. Bonanza Road, starting 7 a.m. Wednesday due to the excessive heat forecasted for Wednesday and Thursday, according to a news release. The location will be open to anyone seeking to escape the high temperatures, and it will be open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. both days.
Those experiencing homelessness at the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center will have access to the cooling station, as well as anyone else in need, the release said. The Courtyard will remain available to those who need a safe place to sleep after the cooling station closes.
Cooling stations
Dula Gymnasium, 441 E. Bonanza Road, Las Vegas, 89101; open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 4-5.
*Walnut Recreation Center, 3075 N. Walnut Road, Las Vegas, 89115; open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call 702-455-8402.
*Pearson Community Center, 1625 West Carey Ave., Las Vegas, 89032; open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call 702-455-1220.
Catholic Charities, 1511 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas, 89101; open 12-3 p.m. daily. Call 702-385-2662.
*Hollywood Recreation Center, 1650 S. Hollywood Blvd., Las Vegas, 89142; open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call 702-455-0566.
*Cambridge Recreation Center, 3930 Cambridge St., Las Vegas, 89119; open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call 702-455-7169.
*Whitney Recreation Center, 5712 E. Missouri Ave., Las Vegas, 89122; open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call 702-455-7576.
Downtown Recreation Center, 105 W. Basic Road, Henderson, 89009; open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call 702-267-4040.
Downtown Senior Center (age 50+), 27 E. Texas Ave., Henderson, 89105; open 12-3 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call 702-267-4150.
*Courtyard Homeless Resource Center, 1401 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Las Vegas, 89101; open 24 hours daily. Call 702-229-6117.
Share Village (daily hydration only), 50 N. 21st St., Las Vegas 89101; open 6-7 a.m. for breakfast pantry and 8-10 a.m. for grocery pantry. Call 702-222-1680.
*American Legion - Richard Springston Post 60. 1510 Bruce Woodbury Dr., Laughlin, 89029; open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on days with temperatures over 112 degrees. (No pets allowed inside.) Call 702-299-1510.
Colorado River Food Bank, 240 Laughlin Civic Dr., Laughlin, 89029, Open 8 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call 702-298-9220.
The Salvation Army Mesquite, 742 Pioneer Blvd., Suite D, Mesquite, 89027; open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Mon-Fri. Call 702-345-5116.
*Can accommodate pets in a carrier and/or on a leash.
That’s in addition to the 13 cooling stations that will also be open across Clark County in Las Vegas, Mesquite, Laughlin and Henderson.
An excessive heat warning was issued by the National Weather Service early today for western Clark County, southern Nye County and the Las Vegas Valley, and will be in effect from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Thursday. Temperatures are expected to reach as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit, the weather service said.
If turnout for this week’s cooling shelter at the Dula Gymnasium is similar to the turnout at the shelter in July, anywhere from 100-200 people could show up, city spokesperson Jace Radke said. Temperatures during last month’s heatwave reached 117 degrees Fahrenheit.
Face masks, social distancing and other pandemic mitigation measures will also be required, Radke said. A mask mandate went back into effect Friday for Nevada, which requires face coverings in indoor public spaces.
As of Monday, the Nevada Health Response reported 908 new daily cases and six new deaths each for a 14-day moving average in the state. That’s compared with 767 new daily cases and five new deaths for the 14-day moving average in Clark County.
“We’ll follow all of the mitigation measures the county has in place,” Radke said.
Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, especially for those working or participating in outdoor activities. The NWS advises drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air conditioned room, staying out of the sun and checking up on relatives and neighbors.
The weather service also advised that young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.