Cooling Sites Established As Heat Wave Hits Bergen County

See an update here: https://patch.com/new-jersey/m...

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Bergen County has opened emergency cooling centers at numerous locations throughout the county, as residents seek relief from a heat wave forecast to last several days, County Executive Jim Tedesco announced in a news release.

Temperatures are expected to climb well into the 90s, with a heat index that could be close to 100 degrees.

The following is a list of the regional cooling sites, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday:

County Administration Building

One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, 1st Floor

(201) 336-7300

*Open Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24 if needed*

Northwest Bergen Senior Activity Center

46-50 Center Street, Midland Park, NJ

(201) 445-5690

Southwest Bergen Senior Activity Center

147 Hackensack Street, East Rutherford, NJ

(201) 935-8920

Bergenfield Senior Center

293 Murray Hill Terrace, Bergenfield, NJ

(201) 387-7212

Bergen County Community Services Building

(201) 343-6000

327 E Ridgewood Ave, Assembly Room, Paramus, NJ

Several municipalities are also designating public libraries, shopping centers, recreation and senior centers as cooling stations. Residents should consider visiting municipal cooling centers before traveling to county facilities to help prevent heat-related illnesses.

Residents who need a ride to a cooling center may call 201-368-5955 x1 between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Emergency requests may be arranged after hours by calling 201-707-1082.

The county executive's office, in the news release, also advised residents to stay indoors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., if possible, and to take safety precautions if outdoors, including drinking water and wearing sunscreen.

"It is not OK to leave a child or pet in a locked vehicle even for a moment," the news release said. "It is also imperative to lock all parked vehicles so children cannot accidentally lock themselves inside."