LEARN MORE. Sweltering heat is on the way and that means Polk County’s extreme temperature emergency plan goes into effect this weekend. IT STARTS ON SUNDAY MORNING AT EIGHT AND LASTS UNTIL WEDNESDAY. AS PART OF THE PLAN, EMERGENCY SHELTERS PROVIDE A PLACE TO GET OUT OF THE HEAT. THERE ARE LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY THAT INCLUDE LIBRARIES AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. CALL AHEAD BEFORE MAKING PLANS TO GO JUST TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE OPEN.
Extreme heat is on its way to Iowa. Here’s how to stay safe
Updated: 1:57 pm CDT June 14, 2024
Dangerous heat is on its way to Iowa this week and the heat index is likely to exceed 100 degrees. It only takes a few minutes for heat-related illnesses or deaths to occur at such high temperatures. KCCI will keep you up to date on weather, safety tips, emergency information and more so everyone can stay cool in extreme temperatures. Iowa’s latest forecast KCCI’s 8-day forecast shows highs in the 80s and 90s over the next week. Sunday will be the start of a three-day stretch of highs around 90 degrees in central Iowa. The high will drop to the 80s on Wednesday before climbing back into the 90s through the end of the week. Polk County Extreme Temperature Plan During extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, the Polk County Extreme Temperature Plan will go into effect. The trigger criteria for extreme heat is that there must be a heat index of 95 degrees or higher and two or more consecutive days in which the heat index does not fall below 75 at night. Polk County will activate its extreme heat plan at 8 a.m. on June 16. and will remain in effect until 8 am on June 19. Activation of the plan includes: Climate amnesty at area homeless shelters Activation of cooling centers Free access to these areas on DART buses Emergency shelters Emergency shelters will open throughout Polk County for people to use stay cool and get any care you may need. DART offers free rides to anyone trying to get to either location. Polk County shelter locations are as follows: Catholic Charities Diocese of Des Moines: Open to families 601 Grand Ave., Des Moines Central Iowa Shelter and Services: Low-barrier shelter for people 18 years and older 1420 Mulberry St ., Des Moines Iowa Children and Families: Safe haven for people fleeing domestic violence1111 University Ave., Des MoinesEllipsis: Shelter and programs for youth under 18 years old involved in child welfare or the juvenile justice system918 SE 11th St ., Des MoinesHawthorn Hill: Shelter for Families and Children3001 Grand Ave., Des MoinesHope Ministries Bethel Mission: Shelter for Men 1310 6th Ave., Des Moines Hope Ministries Hope Center: Shelter for Women and Children 6701 SW 9th St., Des Moines Iowa Homeless Youth Center: Shelter for people ages 18 to 24 612 Locust St., Des Moines Cooling Centers Cooling centers are places anyone can stop by to cool off and escape extreme weather. Polk County has more than 30 different locations designated as cooling centers. Click here for a complete list. How to stay safe Keep windows closed and covered. Use air conditioning if possible and avoid letting in sunlight. If you don’t have air conditioning, identify nearby areas that have it, such as shopping malls or coffee shops. Take it easy and don’t overexert yourself. Go outside only in the morning and evening during the coolest hours of the day. Stay Hydrate, drink plenty of fluids When outside, seek shade, wear a hat and sunscreen. Wear loose, light clothing. Take cold showers or baths. How does excessive heat affect people? The human body constantly monitors our temperature and keeps it in a delicate range between 97-99 degrees Fahrenheit. When it’s too hot, the entire body works hard to lower the temperature. The heart works especially hard to pump warm blood to the surface of the body to cool it. This can be exhausting for those with heart problems and can eventually lead to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and even organ failure and death. Young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and anyone who spends more time outdoors are especially at risk for heat. -Related disease. Polk County leaders say people should be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Symptoms include heavy sweating, cold, pale, clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, headache, or fainting. You should never leave small children or pets alone in a car, even if you think the air conditioning is on. It only takes about 10 minutes for the temperature in a car to rise above 110 degrees, even if it is left in the shade. Those temperatures can kill a child or pet in a matter of minutes. Other Ways to Beat the Heat KCCI has a full list of places to swim and have fun on a hot day in central Iowa. Click here for more information.KCCI ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Facebook |YouTube | Instagram | Twitter » Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple| Google PlayGet the latest headlines from KCCI
DES MOINES, Iowa—
Dangerous heat is on its way to Iowa this week and the heat index is likely to exceed 100 degrees. It only takes a few minutes for heat-related illnesses or deaths to occur at such high temperatures.
KCCI will keep you up to date on weather, safety tips, emergency information and more so everyone can stay cool in extreme temperatures.
Iowa’s latest forecast
KCCI’s 8-day forecast shows highs in the 80s and 90s over the next week. Sunday will be the start of a three-day stretch of highs around 90 degrees in central Iowa. The high will drop to the 80s on Wednesday before climbing back into the 90s through the end of the week.
Polk County Extreme Temperature Plan
During extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, the Polk County Extreme Temperature Plan will go into effect. The trigger criteria for extreme heat is that there must be a heat index of 95 degrees or higher and two or more consecutive days in which the heat index does not fall below 75 at night.
Polk County will activate its extreme heat plan at 8 a.m. June 16 and will remain in effect until 8 a.m. June 19.
Plan activation includes:
- Climate Amnesty at Area Homeless Shelters
- Activation of cooling centers.
- Free access to these areas on DART buses
Emergency shelters
Emergency shelters will open throughout Polk County for people to use to stay cool and receive any care they may need. DART offers free rides to anyone trying to get to either location.
Polk County shelter locations are as follows:
- Catholic Charities Diocese of Des Moines: Open to families
- 601 Grand Ave., Des Moines
- Central Iowa Shelter and Services: Low-barrier shelter for people over 18 years of age
- 1420 Mulberry St., Des Moines
- Iowa Children and Families: Safe haven for people fleeing domestic violence
- 1111 University Avenue, Des Moines
- Ellipse: Shelter and programs for youth under 18 years of age involved in child welfare or the juvenile justice system
- 918 SE 11th St., Des Moines
- Hawthorn Hill: Shelter for families and children
- 3001 Grand Ave., Des Moines
- Hope Ministries Bethel Mission: Shelter for men
- 1310 6th Avenue, Des Moines
- Hope Ministries Hope Center: Shelter for women and children
- 6701 SW 9th St., Des Moines
- Iowa Homeless Youth Center: Shelter for people from 18 to 24 years old.
- 612 Locust St., Des Moines
Cooling centers
Cooling centers are places where anyone can stop by to cool off and protect themselves from extreme weather. Polk County has more than 30 different locations designated as cooling centers.
Click here for a complete list.
How to stay safe
- Keep windows closed and covered. Use air conditioning if possible and avoid letting in sunlight.
- If you don’t have air conditioning, identify nearby areas that have air conditioning, such as shopping malls or coffee shops.
- Take it easy and don’t push yourself too hard.
- Go outside only in the morning and evening during the coolest hours of the day.
- Stay hydrated, drink plenty of fluids.
- When you are outside, seek shade, wear a hat, and wear sunscreen.
- Wear loose, light clothing
- Take cold showers or baths.
How does excessive heat affect people?
The human body constantly monitors our temperature and keeps it in a delicate range of between 97 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit. When it’s too hot, the entire body works hard to lower the temperature. The heart works especially hard to pump warm blood to the surface of the body to cool it. This can be exhausting for those with heart problems and can eventually lead to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and even organ failure and death.
Young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and anyone who spends more time outdoors are especially at risk for heat-related illnesses.
Polk County leaders say people should be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Symptoms include heavy sweating, cold, pale, clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, headache, or fainting.
You should never leave small children or pets alone in a car, even if you think the air conditioning is running. It only takes about 10 minutes for the temperature in a car to rise above 110 degrees, even if it is left in the shade. Those temperatures can kill a child or pet in a matter of minutes.
Other ways to beat the heat
KCCI has a complete list of places to swim and have fun on a hot day in central Iowa. Click here to learn more.
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