Slow Start Today at Nashville’s Cooling Center, Despite Heat

Despite highs approaching a hundred degrees in Middle Tennessee today, Red Cross volunteers at Nashville’s cooling station say they haven’t seen a huge influx of people.

The cooling center is a few miles south of downtown, on the state fairgrounds. This morning three volunteers there sat waiting in an empty air-conditioned room.

Volunteer Spencer Rabon says around a half dozen people came to escape the heat yesterday, but none had come by today as of lunchtime. Rabon figures the location is a factor – It might not be the most convenient for some people.

“Everyone’s downtown trying to get here or trying to get to just somewhere with relief, and businesses aren’t letting them in, and so they’re just trying to find relief. And so they’ll go to the hospital, like waiting rooms, and they can’t stay there forever because people are actually sick. So it’s just a very interesting situation and we’re trying to do what we can.”

Officials say drivers with the City’s Office of Emergency Management are looking for people sitting on porches where it’s too hot to be inside, and offering water or rides to the cooling center.

ALSO:

Metro Parks is using community centers and golf club houses as cooling centers. A detailed list is here (pdf)