Excessive Heat Warning For Bergen County; Cooling Centers And Rides Available

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — As the temperature is expected to reach 98 degrees in Bergen County on both Thursday and Friday, the county has opened cooling centers starting on Wednesday.

The National Weather Service also said an excessive heat warning is in effect starting Thursday.

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco announced that the county's four regional cooling centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Wednesday, July 26 through at least Friday, July 28.

Residents requiring a ride to a county emergency cooling center may call 201-368-5955 x1 during between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Emergency requests may be arranged after hours by dialing 201-394-2882.

It is recommended that residents stay indoors if possible from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. when the sun is at its strongest and burns and heat strokes are more likely to occur.

Besides the following county centers, some towns will have their own cooling centers, so check with your Town Hall.

County Administration Building

One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, 1st Floor (201) 336-7300

Garfield Senior Activity Center

480 Midland Avenue, Garfield, (973) 478-0502

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

In addition, several municipalities are designating public spaces such as public libraries, shopping centers, recreation, and senior centers as cooling centers.

Residents should consider visiting municipal cooling centers before travelling to the county facility to help avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke, the county said.

All age groups are at risk for heat stroke so please take necessary precautions if you have to be outdoors, including wearing sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and staying properly hydrated.

It is NOT okay to leave a child or pet in a locked vehicle even for a moment as temperatures can rise quite quickly.

It is also imperative to lock all parked vehicles so children cannot accidentally lock themselves inside while playing games like hide and seek. Several children have died this way in recent years, including two in the U.S. just this week.