The Jasper and Newton County areas have been in a heat advisory for the past week. Temperatures are reaching triple digits. The heat advisory happens when the heat index reaches 105 degrees or the air temperature reaches 100 degrees.
The Homeless Coalition of Jasper and Newton County have a list of cooling centers locations for both counties and nearby McDonald and Barton county. The list is available throughout the summer during extreme heat. The cooling stations offer a free place to cool down for residents without easy access to air-conditioning.
Jeana Gockley is the Library Director for Joplin Public Library. She said it’s important people know about the options for staying cool in extreme heat.
“We always encourage the community to come in and use our space no matter what the temperatures are,” said Gockley. “We want people to know we’re there for them.”
Overheating is dangerous and puts the human body at risk for heat stroke.
Here are some tips to stay cool during extreme heat:
- Never leave people or pets in a closed car on a warm day
- Find the nearest cooling center if air conditioning is not available in your home
- Take cool showers or baths
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing
- Drink fluids to stay hydrated
- Avoid high-energy activities while outside during heat
- Check on family members, older adults and neighbors
- Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
A full list of heat-related safety tips can be found at ready.gov/heat.
Here are some of the available cooling centers during this week’s heat advisory:
Jasper County:
Joplin:
- Souls Harbor, 817 Main Street
- Watered Gardens, 531 S Kentucky
- Salvation Army, 320 E 8th Street
- Joplin Public Library, 1901 E 20th Street
- Joplin First Church of the Nazarene, 2124 Utica Street
- Minnie Hackney Community Center, 110 S Main Street
- Dr. Clark Public Safety Complex, 303 E 3rd Street
- Joplin City Hall, 602 S Main Street
- Joplin Health Department, 321 E 4th Street
- Joplin Senior Center 2616 S Picher Street
- Joplin Athletic Center, 3301 W 1st Street
Webb City:
- Webb City Library, 101 S Liberty Street
Carl Junction:
- The Center, 303 N Main Street
- CJ Community Center, 303 N Main Street
Carthage:
- Carthage Library, 612 S Garrison Street
- Carthage Senior Center, 404 E 3rd Street
Sarcoxie:
- Sarcoxie Public Library, 506 Center Street
Newton County:
- Neosho Newton County Library, 201 W Springs Street
- Neosho Restoration Life Center, 415 N High Street
- The Center for Seniors in Neosho, 1017 E Carl Sweeney Street
- Seneca Branch Library, 1216 Cherokee Avenue
McDonald County:
- Pineville Library, 808 Bailey Road
- Southwest City Library, 102 S Main Street
- Noel Library, 626 Johnson Drive
- McDonald County Health Department, 3446 Bus Highway 71
Barton County:
- Barton County Library (Lamar), 300 W 10th Street
- Barton County Senior Center, 306 W 11th Street
The full list of cooling centers offered from The Homeless Coalition of Jasper and Newton Counties are available on their Facebook page. A comprehensive map of the cooling center locations is on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
