Submitted by Thurston County
The National Weather Service has issued a forecast for temperatures over 100 degrees in the Puget Sound for the coming weekend. Because of the extreme weather forecast, Thurston County has declared a 4-day, 3-night hazardous weather event beginning Friday, June 25, and ending Monday, June 28.
During this extreme heat, Thurston County homeless service providers and City of Olympia staff will provide multiple options for individuals living outside to stay hydrated and find cool places for daytime hours.
- Emergency Cooling Center: Open 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday June 26 through Sunday June 27 at 201 Capitol Way. This cooling center will be available for individuals needing to shelter during the hottest parts of the day.
- Increased Shelter-In-Place Activities: Partners in Prevention Education will be providing increased distribution of survival supplies to individuals and families living in encampments.
- Other Emergency Hazardous Weather Shelter options: Other shelter options are available at Union Gospel Mission for single adults, Family Support Center’s Pear Blossom Place for families with children seeking shelter, and Community Youth Services is available for youth ages 18-24.
“With the goal of saving lives and protecting our most vulnerable residents, in the summer of 2019, the county’s Hazardous Weather Task Force (HWTF) pivoted from focusing response efforts only during cold weather months to a year-round readiness so we can specifically respond to events like the upcoming extreme hot weather,” said Schelli Slaughter, Director of Public Health and Social Services. “The work done through the HWTF has created a process where we can immediately respond to the needs of unsheltered Thurston County residents during any hazardous weather event, regardless of time of year.”
For more information on available shelters, contact the Thurston County Shelter Hotline at 1.844.628.7343.
