{"id":264326,"date":"2026-05-09T03:04:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T03:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/264326\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T03:04:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T03:04:15","slug":"orange-county-expands-access-to-cooling-centers-during-extreme-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/264326\/","title":{"rendered":"Orange County expands access to cooling centers during extreme heat"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Credit: Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Orange County\u2019s cooling centers, opened during the region\u2019s hottest days as a public health initiative, will be opened when the weather hits a lower heat index this year, thanks to sustained pressure from local activists who told county leaders that the current threshold is too high.<\/p>\n

Currently, these county-operated cooling centers<\/a> \u2014 offering a publicly accessible, air-conditioned place to rest during times of extreme heat \u2014 are opened by the county at local parks and recreation centers when the heat index reaches 108 degrees.<\/p>\n

Somewhat different from the outside temperature, the heat index \u201cis what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature,\u201d according to the National Weather Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During Tuesday\u2019s board of county commissioners meeting, local advocates organized with the grassroots group Support Orlando Shelters<\/a> argued that this threshold is too high, especially for homeless people outdoors who have fewer options for relief. According to the NWS, a heat index of 103 or above can cause dangerous health conditions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, if people are subjected to prolonged exposure.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we wait to 108, then we\u2019ve gone to the extreme,\u201d argued Val Mobley, an SOS advocate who\u2019s been meeting with county staff since last month to discuss the cooling center issue. \u201cThe heat is not going to change. It\u2019s only going to get worse, and we all know that. So let\u2019s do what we can,\u201d she pleaded.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny of us, in a flash, can end up without a home,\u201d added Alan Levi, another advocate organized with SOS. \u201cLet\u2019s take care of everyone, not just people who can afford shade.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings \u2014 a term-limited mayor running for Florida governor this year as a Democrat \u2014 responded to the group\u2019s pleas with a rare decision to change the heat index threshold then and there. Even though the idea hadn\u2019t formally been placed on the meeting agenda, the board of county commissioners voted unanimously to lower the heat index threshold for opening county cooling centers from 108 to 103.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do believe that it is a public safety and a public health issue,\u201d Demings conceded. \u201cIt\u2019s the right thing to do at the right time. Those of you who spoke, thank you for bringing it to our attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mobley, who had advocated for the 103 threshold, admitted that \u201cit\u2019s not great, because at 90 degrees, we know how hot it is.\u201d Still, the group counted the board\u2019s move to lower the threshold as a victory, or at least a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to increase the communication and the way that people find out about where they can go and be safe,\u201d argued Michael Perkins, another SOS advocate who suggested coordinating stronger communication strategies through the emergency management department. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe also need to lower the barriers for people who have pets, who have their belongings with them, who maybe just need to rest, lay down and rest for a bit,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\"\"Service advocates gather for a County Commission District 5 forum on the \u2018state of homelessness\u2019 (Sept. 25, 2025) Credit: Courtesy of Support Orlando Shelters<\/p>\n

Many of the region\u2019s homeless shelters, for instance \u2014 which are currently at capacity \u2014 have strict rules such as curfews and pet bans. Pets can serve as a defense against violence for people living on the streets and can offer comfort to people who have little else in their life that\u2019s stable.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you\u2019re sleeping outside and someone comes into your area, if a dog barks to let you know, that can be a significant safety feature,\u201d said Martha Are, CEO of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, in a previous interview with Orlando Weekly. \u201cWe have people who are not willing to go into shelters and lose their pets because they\u2019re concerned if they lose the shelter, then they also don\u2019t have that security, in addition to the emotional support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Central Florida\u2019s homeless population, largely concentrated in Orange County, currently outnumbers the available shelter beds in the region. Advocates have said that older adults living on fixed incomes now make up a greater share of the region\u2019s homeless population<\/a>, compared to years past \u2014 including seniors priced out of their homes due to factors such as rising rents and skyrocketing home insurance rates.<\/p>\n

Central Florida is also expecting \u201cnear record heat\u201d over the next few days, according to News 6\u2019s Thursday weather report<\/a>. Although rain showers are expected over the weekend, this moisture is expected to add greater humidity and thus raise the actual temperatures outside of upper 80s and low 90s to a \u201cfeels like\u201d temperature or heat index value into the upper 90s or 100s.<\/p>\n

Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

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