Find Cooling Centers and Heat Safety Alerts Near You

When extreme heat is expected, check two things first: whether an official heat alert is active and which nearby cooling center is open now. Locations, hours, transportation options, and entry rules can change during a heat event, so verify current details before leaving.

Find help now

- Check your city, county, or local health department website for cooling-center openings and local heat-response updates.

- Call 211, where available, for community resource referrals.

- Use the National Weather Service to view your local forecast and active weather alerts.

Local agencies and individual sites determine cooling-center operations, availability, and entry rules. Use the site’s current posting or phone line for final confirmation.

Start With Official Local Heat Information

Your city, county, local emergency management agency, or public health department is usually the best source for local heat-response information. These organizations may publish cooling-center locations, local heat emergency declarations, transportation details, public-service updates, and safety guidance.

Check official sources such as:

Your city or county government website
Your local emergency management office
Your local public health department
Official city, county, or public-safety social media accounts
Local emergency alert sign-up pages

Search your community name with terms such as “extreme heat,” “heat alert,” “heat emergency,” “cooling center,” or “heat relief.” Public health agencies may also share information for people at higher risk, including older adults, young children, people with medical conditions, outdoor workers, and people without air conditioning.

Use current official updates rather than an old list, a shared social post, or information from a previous heat event.

Find a Cooling Center Near You

A cooling center is typically a designated, air-conditioned location opened or identified by a community during dangerous heat. Centers may operate only during specific conditions or hours, so a site that is usually available may not be serving as a formal cooling center every day.

Start with your local government or health department website. Search for:

“Cooling center”
“Heat relief”
“Extreme heat resources”
“Heat emergency”
“Cooling station”

Depending on the community and the event, local agencies may identify public buildings or partner facilities such as:

Public libraries
Community or recreation centers
Senior centers
Municipal buildings
Schools or facilities opened for emergency use
Faith-based or nonprofit community facilities

Before traveling, confirm that the location is currently open and can meet your needs.

What to confirm	Why it matters
Address and entrance	A site may use a specific entrance or temporary location.
Current hours	Hours can change during a heat event.
Entry requirements	Some locations may use check-in procedures or have other rules.
Accessibility	Confirm wheelchair access, elevators, seating, or other needed accommodations.
Transportation	Check transit routes, shuttle service, or ride assistance if offered locally.
Rules for children, pets, food, and devices	Policies vary by site.

Use Local Information and Referral Services

If an online search does not quickly identify a cooling center, try 211. In many areas, dialing 211 connects callers with community information and referral services. Availability and services vary, but a local 211 service may help identify cooling centers, shelters, transportation support, utility assistance, or other heat-related resources.

You can also contact:

Your city or county non-emergency information line
A local library branch
Community organizations or neighborhood resource centers
A housing authority or property management office
Senior-service agencies or disability resource organizations

Ask whether a location is open now. If transportation is a barrier, ask about local transit options, heat-response rides, or other available assistance.

Check National Weather Service Heat Alerts

The National Weather Service provides local forecasts and weather alerts across the United States. Enter your city, ZIP code, or location on its website to see the local forecast and active alerts.

Heat-related alerts may include advisories, warnings, watches, or locally named heat products. Alert names and criteria can vary by region because dangerous heat depends on local climate, humidity, overnight temperatures, and the expected duration of high heat.

Read the full alert for your area. It may explain:

When hazardous heat is expected to begin and end
Expected temperatures and heat conditions
Locations that may be most affected
Recommended protective actions

Continue checking the forecast during a heat event, especially if you will be traveling, working outdoors, attending an event, or staying in a home without reliable air conditioning.

Set Up Alerts Before Temperatures Rise

Set up notifications before a heat wave so you can act quickly if conditions worsen. Enable weather alerts on your phone or weather app, and make sure location settings cover the area you need to monitor. This is especially useful if you travel, work in another community, or care for someone elsewhere.

Also sign up for local emergency notifications if your city or county offers them. Local alerts may include details that a general weather app does not, such as cooling-center openings, transit changes, public-facility hours, and local response instructions.

Save these resources in your phone or keep them in an accessible place:

Your local health department
Your city or county emergency management office
Your local government heat-information page
Your National Weather Service forecast page
211, where available

If You Cannot Reach a Cooling Center

If you cannot get to a designated cooling center, look for another safe, air-conditioned public place that is open in your area. Depending on local availability, libraries, shopping centers, community facilities, and other public buildings may provide temporary relief even when they are not listed as official cooling centers.

Confirm current hours and access rules before leaving. If travel is difficult, contact 211, local non-emergency services, or community organizations to ask about transportation help or other heat-response resources.

If you or someone else has urgent symptoms of heat-related illness or a medical emergency, call emergency services. Do not wait for a cooling center to open if immediate medical help is needed.

Prepare for a Visit to a Cooling Center

Bring what you need and follow the site’s posted rules. Consider taking:

Water and needed snacks, if permitted
Medications and necessary medical supplies
Mobility aids, communication devices, or other essential equipment
A phone and charging cable, if allowed
Identification or documents only if the site says they are required

Review the site’s current policies before you go. Rules may differ on children, pets, food, device charging, check-in procedures, and length of stay. Plan a safe route, avoid the hottest part of the day when possible, and let someone know where you are going if you are at increased risk from heat.

Take These Steps During a Heat Event

Use this quick checklist when temperatures become dangerous:

Check the current local heat alert through the National Weather Service and your city or county.
Find a nearby cooling center through official local government or public-health sources.
Confirm the site is open, including its hours, access rules, accessibility details, and transportation options.
Arrange transportation or ask local services about available travel assistance if needed.
Keep monitoring official updates until the heat event has passed.

Act early when possible. Checking heat alerts and confirming an open cooling location before conditions become severe can help you make a safer plan for yourself, family members, neighbors, and others who may need assistance.