Oliver Perry is three years old, his mother Amber Courselle has been trying to keep him busy and cool in the current heat wave. Here’s what they’ve been up to.
Poughkeepsie Journal
With her 2-year-old daughter in tow, Christie Shields made the trip from her home in West Point to Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls Monday.
The park is roughly an hour from her home. But, the sweltering heat made cooling off a priority.
Shields is eager to find activities outside her two-bedroom, second-floor apartment, though many public pools are closed amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s very hot, and the choices for where to swim or cool off are limited, so we were hoping to hit up the splash pad here,” she said of the park’s water-spraying playground.
Dutchess County has seen three consecutive days in which the mercury surpassed the dash marked 90 on the thermometer.
While the heat wave in the region may break Tuesday — the high temperature in the Poughkeepsie area is only forecast to reach a relatively chilly 89 degrees — the stretch has offered residents a taste of how the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has impacted avenues to survive extreme heat.
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The splash pad at Bowdoin Park is open from noon to 6 p.m. each day, but few public pools are open. And while the state provided procedures to how to safely run a cooling center, none were opened by the county or Dutchess’ cities in recent days.
The City of Poughkeepsie in past years has used the Public Safety Building at 505 Main St. as a cooling center. Community Engagement Director John Penney said it opted against that this weekend, but noted the Department of Public Works was handing out bottles of water to people outside Monday, and the overall response will be evaluated for future heat waves this summer.
“We decided at this point not to open a cooling center,” Penney said. “We are going to monitor that. It looks like the temperatures are going to start going down a bit later this week. But if we get into a longer stretch or something, we are going to have to reconsider again.”
Some found ways to stay cool at home. Oliver Perry rushed toward a play house in his backyard Monday morning with a hose.
Donned in a fire chief uniform and helmet, the three-year-old Poughkeepsie resident extinguished an imaginary fire.
His mother Amber Courselle said his imagination keeps the family entertained, even on hot days and during the COVID-19 pandemic when other social options aren’t available. She said he continues to attend daycare.
“We have been keeping cool by going to the beach and my parents have a pool,” Courselle said. “So a lot of days we go over there. He just started swimming lessons so we are in the pool a lot.”
How hot is it?
While the National Weather Service in Albany had issued a heat advisory for the region and warned of heat-related illnesses, the advisory was expected to expire 8 p.m. Monday.
Though hotter than average for this time of year, which typically sees temperatures in the mid-80s, the forecast was well below the record high temperature of 102 degrees, according to meteorologist Jennifer Vogt.
Temperatures Monday were forecast to reach 93 degrees — combined with the humidity it was expected to feel like a high of 97 — but that is expected to decrease in the coming days.
After an expected high of 89 on Tuesday and a low of 67, Wednesday is expected to drop slightly below average with a high of 84 degrees and a low of 69 degrees.
“This weather isn’t particularly unusual, considering we’re in the last weeks of July,” Vogt said.
Avenues to survive the heat
But with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the community lacks the same means and utilities to stay cool in this heat, as compared to past years. That’s especially true for those who do not have easy access to air-conditioning.
Specific cooling centers were not set up. However, Colleen Pillus, spokeswoman for the Dutchess County Executive’s Office, said local libraries are an established place where locals can go to cool off. Residents are advised to contact their library ahead of visiting, especially as libraries have a limited capacity amid the pandemic.
“Other options include indoor shopping malls for a break from the heat,” Pillus said, noting the splash pad. “Unfortunately, the lake at Wilcox Park is currently closed due to algae bloom.”
While municipal pools in Dutchess County cities were closed, not all local options were shut down. The Town of Washington pool is open daily for town residents and those from bordering towns. Residents should check their town’s website for the status of local pools and parks.
Individuals who may be homeless can stop by the county’s 24-7 shelter PODS at the Dutchess County Jail for relief, Pillus said.
The state on June 12 offered guidance for safety at cooling centers that fall in line with other safety suggestions. Remaining six-feet apart and wearing a mask while inside the center is stressed. Operators must have adequate sanitation supplies in bathrooms and hand sanitizer available.
Workers at the cooling center and visitors must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering, and operators must inform visitors of safety regulations.
Tips during heat wave
The weather service offered tips for how to navigate the heat this week:
- Stay hydrated and cool
- Keep track of pets and check up on family and neighbors
- Be wary of pets, children and senior citizens who can’t monitor themselves
- Reschedule activities to early morning and evenings
- Wear light weight and loose-fitting clothing
- Anyone overcome by heat should move to cool and shaded locations
- Heat stroke is an emergency; call 911
Ryan Santistevan: [email protected]; 845-437-4809; Twitter: @NewsByRyan_. Geoffrey Wilson: [email protected]; 845-437-4882; Twitter: @GeoffWilson_
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