Wake County to open cooling stations as temperature soar. Where to go.

Allison Edwards, 10, pours water on Legend Hunt, 6, at Forest Hills Park on Monday, July 3, 2023, in Durham, N.C. Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-90s with a heat index in the triple digits this week in the Triangle. (Kaitlin McKeown/kmckeown@newsobserver.com)

Wake County will open some public buildings as cooling stations starting Wednesday, as temperatures climb into what will feel like the triple digits.

“More than 600 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year, but heat-related deaths and illnesses are preventable,” Darshan Patel, operations manager with Wake County Emergency Management, said in a news release. “We encourage anyone who doesn’t have a place to take shelter to visit one of our cooling stations.”

The following locations will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Thursday through Friday.

Wake County Health and Human Services, 220 Swinburne St., Raleigh
Wake County Health and Human Services Center at Departure, 5809 Departure Drive, Raleigh
Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon
Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest
Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina
Western Health and Human Services Center, 111 James Jackson Ave., Cary.

Wake County Public Libraries will also be open as cooling stations during their regular hours starting at noon Wednesday through Sunday.

People can check their local library hours online at www.wake.gov/departments-government/libraries/locations or by calling their local branch.

Wake County opens cooling stations when the heat index will be over 100 degrees for three consecutive days, when the heat index will be 105-109 degrees for two or more days or when the heat index is forecast to be over 110 degrees over the next 12 to 24 hours.

When the heat index exceeds 90 degrees, the Wake County Animal Center stops all midday dog walks to prevent animals from getting heat stroke or burning their paws. Dogs are walked in the morning and evening instead.

Wake County also has a few programs that provide funding for people who need help paying their utility fees due to the excessive heat. More information about those programs can be found online at wake.gov/energyassistance or calling 919-212-0476.

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