City puts cooling centers on ice

In some places, fall is ushered in with warm beverages and cozy nights in. Austin is marking the change in seasons by closing its “extreme heat resources” for the year, after the hottest summer on record. According to a news release from the city, the National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for 38 days this year and the city saw less than 1.5 inches of rain June though August. With cooler (if not cool) temperatures in the forecast, the city is halting its operations related to heat, including its cooling centers at libraries and park facilities and a recent misting canopy pilot that was operating at Republic Square Park for 26 days. “We appreciate all the work that went into keeping our community informed and safe. We are thankful to all our library and parks staff who helped provide Cooling Center services to our community,” said Ken Snipes, director for the Austin Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, in a statement to the press. “Our emergency responders did an amazing job putting out fires, treating those who experienced heat-related illnesses and responding to those who needed medical attention. As we move into our next season, I ask everyone in our community to use our preparedness resources to learn how to become more resilient before for the next extreme heat event.”