As temperatures begin to climb across South Texas, Corpus Christi leaders are once again expanding efforts to help residents stay cool this summer.
The City of Corpus Christi and Reliant announced the return of the annual Beat the Heat program on Thursday, which will provide cooling centers, fans, air coolers, and financial support to help seniors and other residents cope with extreme heat.
This year marks the 17th year of the partnership between the city and Reliant.
Reliant donated $12,000 to support the program and is also providing 500 cooling units, which include 400 box fans and 100 Arctic Air coolers.
“We want residents to know that they have a place to keep cool,” said Yolanda Guillory, Reliant’s senior manager of community relations. “We also want them to know that Reliant is more than just an electricity provider. We care about the communities where our customers live and work.”
Four Corpus Christi senior centers will serve as cooling centers throughout the summer:
Oveal Williams Senior Center
Ethel Eyerly Senior Center
The program runs from June through September.
According to Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Director Robert Dodd, the senior centers already provide important services year-round, including meals, activities and social opportunities for older adults.
“They’re a place for our seniors to go and be cool, grab a lunch, be around other seniors and enjoy their time,” Dodd said.
Dodd said the cooling centers become even more important during the hottest months of the year and praised the long-running partnership with Reliant.
“Teaming up with Reliant for the past 17 years has been something that’s beneficial to our seniors,” Dodd said. “This is something we look forward to every year.”
The city also plans to hold two fan distribution events later this summer for residents in need of additional cooling assistance.
Officials encourage residents, especially older adults and those without reliable air conditioning, to take advantage of the available resources as temperatures continue to rise.