Weather News

City of Dallas opens cooling centers for residents seeking heat relief

Weather is hot like fire right now.

Photo courtesy of Hibachi on Fire

With the summer heat continuing to rise, the City of Dallas is encouraging residents seeking relief to use City of Dallas public facilities, and has released the following tips and resources:

Cooling centers
Dallas residents can visit of two cooling centers as a place to stay cool and reduce the need for home electricity use:

Public library at Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, 2922 MLK Jr. Blvd., Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm. 214-670-0344.
West Dallas Multipurpose Center, 2828 Fish Trap Rd., Monday-Thursday 8 am-8 pm, Friday 8 am-7 pm 670-6530. (Unfortunately, if you call this number, it's a 2-hour wait.)

But residents can use any public facility including recreation centers and libraries, available during regular business hours, as well as 18 DART transit centers across Dallas, listed here:

Addison Transit Center
Arapaho Center Station
Bernal/Singleton Transfer Location
CBD East Transfer Center
CBD West Transfer Center
Cockrell Hill Transfer Location
Downtown Garland Station
Downtown Irving/Heritage Crossing Station
Hampton Station
Illinois Station
J.B. Jackson Jr. Transit Center/MLK Jr. Station
Lake June Station
Lake Ray Hubbard Transit Center
Ledbetter Station
Parker Road Station
Red Bird Transit Center
South Garland Transit Center

Other cooling stations include The Salvation Army, Our Calling, Union Gospel Mission Dallas, and Austin Street Center.

AC units
Residents can sign up to receive a free portable AC cooler or Window AC unit from either Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center or West Dallas Multipurpose Center. Quantities are limited to only one unit per household.

Gatorade
The Office of Homeless Solutions Outreach will be passing out cooling packages consisting of Gatorade and a cooling towel along with transportation to any City of Dallas public facility during business hours.

Heat Safety and Energy Savings Tips
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are very real dangers and are preventable when taking precautions during the summer months, especially for the elderly, young, and those with chronic illnesses.

Here are five precautions to take against the effects of high heat and humidity:

Stay hydrated by drinking non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages.
Whether working or playing outdoors, find shade and take lots of breaks.
Stay indoors, with air conditioning and keep air conditioning at 78 or higher if possible to conserve energy. Keeping blinds closed and using fans will also help conserve energy.
Cook with a microwave or slow cooker rather than the stove/oven to reduce heat and electrical use.
Conserve energy by using large appliances in off peak hours or not at all.

weather

Animal News

Dallas animal shelter invites residents to host a pet during holiday

DAS

Husky at Dallas Animal Services

Dallas Animal Services (DAS) is inviting the community to help bring pets “Home for the Holidays” by adopting or fostering during one of the shelter’s busiest times of the year.

DAS has achieved strong positive outcomes this quarter, including adoptions, foster-to-adopt placements, and underage foster placements, with 1,377 in October and 1,378 in November. The department is now working toward a December goal of 1,400 positive outcomes, with 588 completed so far this month.

“We are grateful for the support our community continues to show,” said Victoria Chittam Bennett, Assistant Director. “Every adoption opens a kennel for another pet in need, and the holidays are an especially meaningful time to welcome a new companion.”

This season, adopters will also have the chance to participate in the Friends of Dallas Animal Services (FODAS) 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways, fully funded and supported through donations from generous community supporters. For more information about this initiative, visit friendsofdas.org and watch out for announcements on social media.

Holiday staycations
Residents who may not be ready to adopt can still support DAS pets by participating in Silent Night Holiday Staycations, a short-term foster opportunity that gives dogs a relaxing break from the shelter during the holiday period.

Pickup dates are scheduled for December 20-21, with drop-off options on December 27-28 or January 3-4. Participants typically spend 1-3 hours at the shelter selecting a foster match, and contact with pets outside the home should be limited. Questions may be directed to DASFtA@dallas.gov.

“Holiday Staycations allow our dogs to decompress and show their personalities in a home environment,” said Amanda Earl, Assistant Director. “The insight we receive from these foster stays is invaluable in helping pets find permanent homes.”

DAS encourages the community to adopt, foster, volunteer, or share adoptable pets to help meet December’s lifesaving goals.
“Together, we can bring home the holidays for the pets relying on us,” said Director Paul Ramon.

For more information on adoptable pets, holiday programs, or ways to get involved, visit https://bedallas90.org/ or stop by the DAS Shelter at 1818 N. Westmoreland Rd.

animals