Where To Find Warren County’s Cooling Centers

WARREN COUNTY, NJ — Temperatures are soaring throughout all of New Jersey, with Warren County having established locations where residents can go if they need a cool place for part of the day.

For an updated list, visit New Jersey 2-1-1’s cooling centers page, then choose “Warren County.”

Locations currently include (as of 7:30 p.m. June 29, 2021):

• Belvidere Headquarters Library Branch, 2 Shotwell Drive, Belvidere (open Monday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Catherine Dickson Hoffman Blairstown Library Branch, 4 Lambert Road, Blairstown (open Monday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Northeast Independence Library Branch, 40 Route 46 West, Independence (open Monday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Library Southwest Branch, 404 Route 519, Phillipsburg (open Monday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

New Jersey’s Office Of Emergency Management cautions everyone in the Garden State that heat indices can reach more that 100 to 105 and with excessive heat advisories through Wednesday possible.

Cooling center information is available statewide at www.nj211.org, by dialing 2-1-1 or texting 898211 with your zip code to find a cooling center. Cooling centers may include shopping centers, libraries, community centers and other locations.

New Jersey’s OEM gives the following tips for people who must go outside, how to stay cool indoors and other tips:

1. Wear lightweight, loose, light-colored clothes.
2. Stay in the shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover your face.
3. Stay hydrated.
4. Steer clear of “high-energy activities.”
5. Try not to use electric fans when it’s more than 95, which “create a false sense of comfort” and don’t reduce body temperatures.
6. High heat can cause power outages. See more information here about what to do before, during and after outages.
7. Check on family members, neighbors and friends, especially those who may be seniors, for heat-related illnesses.
8. Never leave children, pets or anyone alone in a hot parked car, even for a minute (find more heat-related pet care tips here) or it can turn deadly, New Jersey OEM said.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at jennifer.miller@patch.com.