Senior center to house cooling center

ROSEBURG, Ore. -- The Roseburg Senior Center will operate a daytime cooling center if needed this summer.

However, the National Weather Service forecast does not currently meet the extreme heat criteria to open a cooling center during the upcoming Fourth of July weekend or next week. Current predictions indicate a high of 97 degrees Fahrenheit Tuesday, July 4, and 95 on Wednesday, July 5. But other days are forecast to see highs of no more than 92.

The senior center at 1614 SE Stephens St. is still making preparations to host a cooling center when the weather forecast meets the criteria, said Senior Center Board President Steve Lewis. Volunteers will be needed to help run the center.

Hot weather conditions that trigger the opening of a cooling center are:

• Forecasted high temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or more;

• Forecasted temperatures of 95 degrees Fahrenheit or more, and additional factors and considerations that would reasonably cause a person to be at increased risk of exposure to heat, including:

- Precipitation

- Humidity

- Wind

- Duration and potential for cumulative effects (hours per day, consecutive days)

- Overall weather patterns.

The senior center received an $87,000 grant from Umpqua Health Alliance to repair the building’s roof and elevator. The grant award was partly based on the senior center’s work to operate a cooling center last summer and a winter warming center overnight, said Roseburg City Councilor Ruth Smith, past president of the senior center board.