Cumberland County Opening Cooling Stations as Heat Indexes Climb Over 100
With temperatures in Fayetteville expected to be in the high 90s this week, Cumberland County has announced several cooling stations will be opening around the region to beat the heat….
With heat indexes climbing into the 100s this week, Cumberland County is opening several cooling stations in and around Fayetteville to help beat the heat.
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesWith temperatures in Fayetteville expected to be in the high 90s this week, Cumberland County has announced several cooling stations will be opening around the region to beat the heat.
According to the National Weather Service, heat indexes are expected over 100 degrees starting Wednesday, getting as high as possibly 107 degrees on Thursday.
The following locations will be open for people to go to beat the heat:
- The Department of Social Services, located at 1225 Ramsey St., has opened the auxiliary lobby as a cooling station. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The lobby is on the first floor waiting area by the reception desk. Masks or face coverings are optional. However, mask wearing, and social distancing are encouraged.
- The first-floor lobby of the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, located at 1235 Ramsey St., is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone entering the Health Department is required to wear a mask and receive a temperature scan. Masks will be provided to anyone who does not have one.
- All eight Cumberland County Public Libraries are open as cooling stations. Libraries are open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Headquarters Library at 300 Maiden Lane, Fayetteville, along with Cliffdale, North Regional, and Hope Mills branches are also open Sundays from 2 to 6 p.m. To find your local library, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.
- The 18 Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Centers are open to the public, year-round, during normal operating hours and can be used by residents seeking relief from the heat. Recreation center locations, hours, contacts and programming schedules are posted at fcpr.us/facilities/recreation-centers/.
"Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working in outdoor activities," Cumberland County said in a release. "Cumberland County Emergency Services reminds residents to take precautions during the hot weather. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, avoid strenuous work, check on relatives and neighbors and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles under any circumstances."
Stay informed about information and alerts by visiting the County’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov or County social media pages at facebook.com/CCNCGov, facebook.com/CumberlandCountyNC911 and twitter.com/CumberlandNC.
More from Sarah Weaver...
Nothing is more important for us than getting some shut-eye, and here in North Carolina, we apparently get some of the worst sleep!
It's no secret that the quality of our sleep is important for our health in multiple ways. Good sleep is essential to our physical and mental function, our ability to fight sickness, and to recharge our natural body processes.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends we get about 7-9 hours of sleep each night. However, it appears some states are getting better sleep than others.
A survey by Aeris looked at over 3,000 Americans across 47 states to analyze different aspects of their sleep. Everything from sleeping positions, to air quality, to how long it takes to fall asleep in the first place.
First, they asked respondents to rate the quality of their sleep on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent.
So which state came out on top with the best quality sleep? That would be the state of Virginia, with an average sleep score of 3.61.
The survey also evaluated different sleep habits across America. For instance, 66% of us sleep on our side. And 54% of us wake up at least 2 times a night! And if you live in the state of Utah, congratulations, you are getting the most sleep per night on average!
Where does North Carolina fall when it comes to good sleep? Here are the best and WORST states for sleeping
The WORST Sleepers
50. Oklahoma
3.04 sleep score
49. Maine
3.08 sleep score
48. Delaware
3.10 sleep score
47. Montana
3.11 sleep score
46. Maryland
3.12 sleep score
45. California
3.13 sleep score
44. Wisconsin
3.14 sleep score
43. North Carolina/Ohio
3.15 sleep score
41. Illinois/Nevada
3.16 sleep score
39. Tennessee
3.20 sleep score
The BEST Sleepers
1. Virginia
3.61 sleep score
2. Iowa
3.52 sleep score
3. New Jersey
3.51 sleep score
4. Alabama
3.50 sleep score
5. Georgia
3.46 sleep score
6. Utah
3.45 sleep score
7. Connecticut/Indiana
3.44 sleep score
9. Vermont
3.40 sleep score
10. Masschusetts/Idaho
3.39 sleep score
12. Kansas
3.38 sleep score
Sleep Tips
So many factors can lead to the superiority or detriment of our sleep. Do you have a good quality pillow? Are you powering down electronic devices an hour before you snooze? Is the air quality and temperature in your home optimal? Regardless, remember there are steps you can take to improve the quality of your sleep, which in turn improves your quality of life! Sweet dreams!
