City of Albany activates Operation Safe Place to provide cooling stations

August 7, 2023

Matthew Crumley,

ALBANY, Ga. – According to carbonbrief.org, the U.S is on par to have one of its hottest summers in decades, but the Albany Fire Department is doing its part in keeping its citizens cool.

“During these extreme heat temperatures we launched what we call Operation Safe Place,” said Rubin Jordan, Deputy Fire Chief, Albany.

With heat waves on the horizon, the city of Albany made it their duty to help citizens that may not have shelter.

“It’s really geared towards the people that do not have a place to go seek cooling but we’ll take anyone in these cooling stations if we need to,” said Jordan.

But, how do Albany officials determine the difference between dangerous heat waves, and it simply being hot outside?

“When the conditions occur it has to have a trigger of 108 degrees index or higher and when we say heat index, that’s what actually the heat feels like,” said Jordan.

Most of these cooling stations will be located at…

“Your libraries and we have the Henderson Gym and another Recreations and Park which is located on the east side,” said Jordan.

If you do plan to be outside in the near future dress for the elements and find some shade.

For a complete list of cooling stations in the City of Albany click here.

Cameron Sanders reporting.