McLean County explains utilization of Warming/Cooling Centers in extreme weather

Photo provided by Josh Walker

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – In the Bloomington-Normal area, there are several warming centers that the county has organized. These centers are short term locations where people can get out of dangerous temperatures to prevent injury or loss of life.

They are for citizens to utilize in extreme cold weather during the winter or as cooling centers in the extreme heat of summer. As Artic air spilled into the Midwest of the United States in mid-January, some parts of the country saw wind chills as low as -30, according to the National Weather Service. The weather even saw nearly all schools and universities in the Bloomington-Normal area closing due to the cold and ice. 

Assistant Director at McLean County Emergency Management Agency Josh Walker spoke on some information regarding these centers. 

“We have six centers within Bloomington-Normal. In Bloomington, there is the Bloomington Public Library. In extreme cases, the McLean County Health Department parking lot, where Connect Transit has a cooling/warming bus provided,” Walker said. “Although, that is not always guaranteed because it is on a case-by-case basis.”

The Bloomington Walmart, Meijer, the Normal Public Library, and the Uptown Station in Normal are also centers available. The facilities themselves are always open during business hours.

Walker says, “For example, the Connect Transit bus is typically only operational during extreme cold, such as a couple of weeks ago when the wind shields dipped into the negatives.” 

Walker elaborated on how these centers benefit the residents in various ways.

“Anyone moving around can get a chance to get out of the cold and heat,” he said. “It gives residents a chance to not have to deal with any paperwork and keep themselves healthy during these tough times.”

Residents can stay at these centers throughout the day, but not for overnight sleeping.