FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued an Excessive Heat Warning today, July 15, until 8 p.m. A Hazardous Weather Outlook will remain in place through much of the week with another Excessive Heat Warning possible with heat index values between 103 and 109. Cumberland County and the City of Fayetteville will continue operating cooling stations over the coming days for residents who do not have access to air conditioning and need a place to get out of the heat.
The Cumberland County Department of Social Services, located at 1225 Ramsey St., will make its auxiliary lobby available as a cooling station during normal business hours, which are Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All public lobbies will be available to citizens. Masks or face coverings are encouraged for those with preexisting conditions.
The first-floor lobby of the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, located at 1235 Ramsey St., is available as a cooling stating during normal business hours, Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks or face coverings are required in some areas and immediately following a COVID-19 infection or close contact. Citizens with preexisting conditions are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering.
All eight Cumberland County Public Library locations are available as cooling stations during normal business hours. Libraries are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Headquarters Library, Cliffdale Regional and Hope Mills Regional libraries are open Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. Find your local library at cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.
The lobbies of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Centers are open to the public year-round during normal operating hours and can be used as respite from the heat. Recreation center locations, hours, contact information and programming schedules are posted at fcpr.us/facilities/recreation-centers/.
The lobby of Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST), located at 505 Franklin St., is open during normal hours. See hours at fayettevillenc.gov/city-services/transit/about-fast/operating-hours-schedules.
The National Weather Service forecasts periods of dangerously hot weather that will continue the majority of this week as temperatures will remain above normal for this time of year. These conditions will increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for those without access to air conditioning and those working outdoors. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, avoid strenuous work, check on relatives and neighbors, and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
Stay informed by visiting the County’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov or County social media pages at facebook.com/CumberlandNC, facebook.com/CumberlandCountyNC911 and twitter.com/CumberlandNC.