Other communities have theirs open . . . where’s Madison’s?
Channel 3 has their list of cooling centers that are open. We had hundreds of people use them, they are obviously needed starting at noon today when the heat advisory goes into effect, in 4 hours, so what’s up?
There were rumors on the street last night that they were opening at 8 am, but I couldn’t find any confirmation of that. And no one knew if it was the Monona Terrace or Senior Center.
Last time the city waited so long to get them opened, one person I know who had medical issues went to Milwaukee (thought it would be cooler by the lake) just 2 hours before the cooling centers opened (he had no idea), and ended up riding his bike back to Madison to Lake Mills and then walked the rest of the way back. Lets not let something crazy like that happen to someone again.
Check out what other communities are able to do – and communicate to the public days in advance . . .
Middleton – 4 cooling shelters (day – Senior Center and City Hall, 24 hours – Police Dept and Fire Station)
Columbus – Sr. Center will be open during the day
Poynette – Village hall – open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Monday and going through Friday.
Portage – Silver Lake Community Church – open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.
Baraboo – Court House – open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Reedsburg – Sauk County Health Care Center – open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wisconsin Dells – Kilbourn public library – 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. On Friday, the library will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Come on Madison, we can do better.
UPDATE: Around 11:00 today, this was the message alders got . . .
The City will have a cooling center tonight and tomorrow in the Exhibition Hall of Monona Terrace. It will open at 8 pm. We will provide cots and water. The Mayor will be discussing this afternoon.
UPDATE 2: Message to Homeless Consortium Agencies:
mayor having a press conference at 12:30. Monona Terrace Exhibit Hall opening at 8 pm tonight (not before) and tomorrow night. Cots and water available.
No meals. Breakfast available at Grace Episcopal drop in shelter at 6 am Tuesday and Wednesday.
During the day, there are other public facilities available for cooling off: branch libraries, Senior Center, shopping centers.
Sally Miley
Office of the Mayor
And if you a permanently banned from Porchlight, can you still get breakfast? 🙂
UPDATE 3: Ok, another update . . .
People already showing up at MT so open now rather than waiting until 8 PM
Sally Miley
Office of the Mayor– Cooling Center in the Exhibition Hall, lower level of Monona Terrace opens at 8 pm…not before
-The center will be open both Monday and Tuesday nights. There will be signs directing people to the Lakeside Doors to use via the bike elevator.
-The Center will have cots and water.
-City Fire will staff as well as Porchlight staff
-There will be breakfast available at Grace Episcopal drop in at 6 a.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday.
During the day, there are libraries, the Senior Center, Warner Park Community Center, shopping centers, and other open facilities where people can get a break from the heat. There is more information on the city web site.
