AUSTIN, Texas — The City of Austin and Travis County are opening cooling centers this summer as central Texas braces for temperatures expected to exceed 100 degrees.
The City says that public facilities, including Austin Public Library branches and Austin Parks and Recreation centers, may serve as cooling centers during normal operating hours this summer.
The facilities are meant to give temporary relief from the heat, the City says. Several cooling centers may offer extended hours during periods of extreme heat, and service animals are allowed inside, according to the City.
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CapMetro will also offer complimentary rides to cooling centers for people who need transportation and may be unable to pay the fare. Riders should notify bus drivers when boarding that they are traveling to a cooling center, the City says.
A full list of cooling center locationg offered by the City of Austin, including hours of operation, can be found on the City’s website.
Travis County Community centers will also serve as cooling centers during normal operating hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those facilities will be closed on county holidays.