Clear Lake Residents Beat The Heat At Cooling Centers

CLEAR LAKE, TX — The City of Houston has opened cooling centers for residents in Clear Lake who are looking for a place to beat the heat. The city has designated the Bay Area Community Center at 5002 NASA Parkway in Seabrook as a cooling center.

The newly designated locations are in addition to 11 Reliant Energy Beat the Heat Centers located at Houston Health Department multi-service centers, and the Kingwood Community Center.

"We are currently enjoying a break in the heat and humidity, but it won't last long," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "I want all residents to have a safe place to get relief from the summer heat. The addition of the new centers in Kingwood and Clear Lake will provide more easily accessible cooling centers for residents who might who have no other place to escape the dangerous heat."

High body temperatures can lead to damage to the brain or other vital organs and even death. Fifteen people in Houston and Harris County died due to heat-related illnesses in 2018. Older adults, infants, children, people who are overweight and those with heart and respiratory illnesses are most vulnerable heat-related illness. The Houston Health Department recommends the following precautions:

• Stay hydrated by drinking more water than usual -- and don't wait until you're thirsty.
• Take breaks if working outdoors. Schedule work in the morning or evening.
• Cool off by going to a cooling center (multi-service centers) or other facility open to the public such as libraries, malls, or community centers if you don't have air conditioning.
• Check on vulnerable people like young children, older adults and those who live alone.

People are also welcome to take advantage of air conditioning at dozens of other public facilities during normal hours.

"During the initial roll out of the Beat the Heat facilities District E residents had to drive over 20 minutes to the nearest location," said City Council member Dave Martin who represents the Kingwood and Clear Lake areas. "After working with Mayor Turner and Commissioner Adrian Garcia's Office the last couple of weeks I am more than happy that these new locations in District E are more easily accessible to residents. I know that District E residents will greatly appreciate access to these facilities during these hot summer months."