Ankeny Prepares for Heat, Cooling Center May Open

Ankeny officials have been preparing for a heat wave predicted for this weekend that will last well into the following week.

Fire Chief Rex Mundt, who also serves as the city's director of emergency management, said he has been meeting with Polk County officials this week regarding emergency response in anticipation of excessive heat.

Mundt said the Polk County Public Health Department has a series of cooling centers on stand-by this weekend.

"We do have a cooling center registered in Ankeny located at the Neveln Center," Mundt said. 

Mundt said these are not overnight shelters but rather centers that, if activated, will be open during the day. The Neveln Center is located at .

The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning Thursday in effect from Saturday afternoon through Tuesday evening.

Forecasts call for high temperatures beginning Friday with mercury reaching into the lower 90s. Afternoon temps will creep higher into the mid 90s on Saturday and Sunday with high 90s by Monday and Tuesday. Factoring in dew points, the heat index will be from 100 to 112 degrees every day.

The county health department will make the determination if overnight shelters are needed based on future heat advisories.

"The standard trend is the fatality rate from heat rises and peaks on the third day of a heat wave," Mundt said. "At that point, if all is true, it could be Saturday or Sunday when there is a very severe heat warning." 

The health department recommends staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water, staying indoors with air conditioning and checking on those without air conditioning twice per day.

Mundt said if anyone needs assistance locating a cooling center, he advises people to dial the helpline at 2-1-1.