NORFOLK, Va. — With "feels like" temperatures expected to soar to around 105 to 110 degrees on Friday and Saturday, staying cool inside won't be a bad idea. And luckily, the seven cities will have places for people to stay safe and healthy.
Excessive heat can cause a lot of problems for people's health, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here's the list of places you can go to cool off:
Norfolk
During excessive heat, people in Norfolk are encouraged to take advantage of the city's libraries and the lobbies of community centers. More information and tips to deal with excessive heat can be found on the city's website.
Norfolk's anchor branch libraries will also have extended hours until 8 p.m. Saturday, July 6.
- Barron F. Black Branch
- Blyden Branch
- Janaf Branch
- Jordan-Newby Branch (open until 8 p.m. Saturday)
- Lafayette Branch
- Larchmont Branch
- Little Creek Branch
- Mary D. Pretlow Branch (open until 8 p.m. Saturday)
- Park Place Branch
- Richard Tucker Memorial Branch (open until 8 p.m. Saturday)
- Slover Branch (open until 8 p.m. Saturday)
- Van Wyck Branch
- Lambert’s Point Community Center
- Norview Community Center
- Salvation Army Hope Center
The city's Parks & Recreation facilities and Norfolk’s Community Services Board’s The Center will also remain open until 8 p.m. Saturday.
Virginia Beach
Residents who need to escape the anticipated hot weather can visit any Virginia Beach Public Library to cool off during a location’s normal business hours:
- Bayside Area Library: 936 Independence Boulevard
- Great Neck Area Library: 1251 Bayne Drive
- TCC / City of Virginia Beach Joint-Use Library: 1700 College Crescent, TCC Campus, Building L
- Kempsville Area Library: 832 Kempsville Road
- Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library: 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd.
- Oceanfront Area Library: 700 Virginia Beach Boulevard
- Princess Anne Area Library: 1444 Nimmo Parkway
- Pungo-Blackwater Library: 916 Princess Anne Road
- Wahab Public Law Library: 2425 Nimmo Parkway
- Windsor Woods Area Library: 3612 South Plaza Trail
The city is also encouraging people in need of assistance to call 311. A city spokesperson said Virginia Beach has several resources available based on the situation and 311 will determine on a case-by-case basis, how to assist a resident in need.
The Virginia Department of Social Services offers an energy assistance program to offset the cost of utility bills, equipment purchases, or repairs related to the operation of an air conditioning unit. More information about the program can be found under “cooling assistance.” The application window is open now through Aug. 15.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth's Office of Emergency Management monitors the NWS forecasts and weather alerts for the city and per the specific heat advisory or heat warnings issued for Portsmouth, they announce and activate cooling stations as follows:
Portsmouth Cooling Stations and Hours -- Water will be provided
Portsmouth City Hall Lobby, 801 Crawford Street
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Portsmouth Main Library, 601 Court Street
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Cradock Library, 28 Prospect Parkway
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Churchland Library, 4934 High Street West
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Manor Library, 1401 Elmhurst Lane
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Behavioral Healthcare Services Building, 1811 King Street
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Social Services/ Human Services Building, 1701 High Street
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Senior Station, 3500 Clifford Street
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
All cooling stations stand ready for when they will be activated for our citizens and water is already available at city libraries. Pets, apart from service animals, are not permitted within any building.
Individuals who are at the greatest risk of heat-related injury include small children, the elderly, and individuals who are impaired or immobile. Please remember to check on them, and, as a reminder, these individuals and pets should not be left in vehicles.
To learn the symptoms and what to do if someone shows signs of a heat-related illness, open this chart: Heat Related Illnesses (cdc.gov). If someone is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
Chesapeake
A spokesperson for the City of Chesapeake said people are welcome and encouraged to visit any libraries or community centers if they need to seek refuge from the high temperatures.
Libraries:
- Central Library - 298 Cedar Road
- Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Outreach and Innovation Library - 2726 Border Road
- Greenbrier Library - 1214 Volvo Parkway
- Indian River Library - 2320 Old Greenbrier Road
- Major Hillard Library - 824 Old George Washington Highway, North
- South Norfolk Memorial Library - 801 Poindexter Street
Note: The Russell Memorial Library at 2808 Taylor Road is temporarily closed, due to ongoing renovations.
Community Centers:
- Deep Creek Community Center - 2901 Margaret Booker Drive
- Dr. Clarence V. Cuffee Community Center - 2019 Windy Road
- Great Bridge Community Center - 212 Holt Drive
- Indian River Community Center - 2250 Old Greenbrier Road
- River Crest Community Center - 1001 River Walk Parkway
- South Norfolk Community Center - 1217 Godwin Avenue
- Western Branch Community Center - 4437 Portsmouth Boulevard
Newport News
A spokesperson for the City of Newport News encouraged people to stop by the city's public library branches and community centers to seek relief from the heat. Hours of operation for the cooling centers over the weekend are:
Pearl Baily Library (2510 Wickham Ave.)
Main Street Library (110 Main St.)
Grissom Library (366 Deshazor Dr.)
Saturday and Sunday, 1 - 5 p.m.
Achievable Dream Tennis Center (1300 Ivy Ave.)
Saturday, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Sunday Closed
Brittingham-Midtown Community Center (570 McLawhorne Dr.)
Denbigh Community Center (15198 Warwick Blvd.)
Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday Closed
Hampton
A spokesperson for the City of Hampton said the city's libraries and community centers are open during normal operating hours for anyone who needs relief from the heat.
Additional tips and information are available on the City of Hampton's website.
Suffolk
Two Suffolk Public Library locations are open as designated cooling centers during regular business hours (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) on Saturday. The cooling centers will offer access to air conditioning, water fountains, and restrooms.
The library locations are:
- Morgan Memorial Library, 443 West Washington Street
- North Suffolk Library, 2000 Bennetts Creek Park Road
York County
Two libraries are offering some relief from the high temperatures this weekend. Tabb Library and Yorktown Library have been designated as cooling centers in York County.
Library hours this weekend are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Both libraries have water fountains for visitors.
The library locations are:
- Tabb Library, 100 Long Green Blvd.
- Yorktown Library, 8500 George Washington Memorial Highway