Shawano and Menominee counties opened public cooling centers Wednesday and will reopen them Thursday and Friday for citizens looking for some relief to this week’s dangerous heat wave.
A heat advisory issued by the National Weather service is in effect until 5 p.m. Friday. Temperatures have been reaching into the mid 90s this week. With humidity levels, those temps have been topping out closer to 105 degrees.
Three area cooling centers have been set up:
• Lower level of the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main St. Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday;
• Wittenberg Community Center, 208 W. Vinal St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday
• Menominee County Courthouse, W3269 Courthouse Lane, Keshena, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
Shawano and Menominee counties emergency management, the Shawano-Menominee County Health Department and Menominee Tribal Emergency Management have worked together on putting the cooling centers in place.
Officials are also urging the public to take caution during the heat wave.
“We ask everyone to take precautions to avoid heat exhaustion, and to check on their family, friends and neighbors who may be especially vulnerable to extreme heat,” said Natalie Easterday, emergency management director for Shawano County.
“Infants and young children up to 4 years do not have the ability to fully regulate their body’s temperature,” she said. “Older adults may be chronically ill or be using certain medications that increase their risk. Please help them stay cool and hydrated.”
The Department of Health Services says last year 27 people died in Wisconsin as a result of heat-related issues. This year, one heat-related death in Wisconsin has been reported and that was last month in Juneau County.
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