Town To Open Cooling Station During Heat Wave

SMITTHOWN, NY - The Town of Smithtown will be have a cooling station open for senior residents looking for relief from the excessive heat expected to hit the area this weekend.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for Long Island that will be in effect from noon until 10 p.m. Saturday.

Friday will see a high near 90 degrees with a heat index, how it feels with humidity factored in, around 100 degrees. On Saturday, the heat index during the afternoon could reach as high as 108 degrees.

During the heat wave on Friday the Smithtown Senior Center will operate as a cooling station until 5 p.m., for seniors without air conditioning over the weekend.

All residents are advised to take extra precautions for themselves, children, elderly family members, and pets for the duration of the heat watch.

"It’s going to be dangerously hot over the weekend. We want to ensure the health and quality of life for our elderly residents," Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said. "It is with this in mind, that our Public Safety Department has made special arrangements to make sure our seniors have a cool place to enjoy the weekend."

Seniors can make arrangements ahead of time by contacting the Senior Citizens Department Thursday or Friday at (631) 360-7616.

After 5 p.m. on Friday evening, arrangements to use the senior center should be made so by calling Public Safety at 631-360-7553.

If a senior citizen does not have transportation, Public Safety will make travel arrangements at the time of the call.

Residents are asked to check on elderly neighbors and pass along this information ahead of the weekend.