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Posted on Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 5:30 p.m.

Soaring temperatures not hot enough yet for county's emergency plan

By Amy Biolchini

061912_NEWS_HEAT_JMS03_fullsize.JPG

Ypsilanti resident Luke Stolarski floats on his back after jumping from a bridge above the Huron River near Barton Nature Area Tuesday afternoon. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s through Wednesday.

Jeffrey Smith | AnnArbor.com

Editor's note: This story, originally published Tuesday, was updated at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday with corrected information from county officials about when the cooling centers open.

People can seek the air-conditioned interiors of public libraries and malls as relief from the summer heat as 90-degree temperatures have sweltered the area Tuesday and Wednesday.

However, the weather isn't hot enough yet for county agencies to put its "Heatwave Response Plan" into action -- which would involve free transportation for the most vulnerable to designated cooling centers.

The heat isn’t entirely welcome - according to an AnnArbor.com poll, about 66 percent of respondents said they hated the weather Tuesday.

Wednesday’s weather continued into the lower 90 degrees. Thursday, temperatures are expected to reach a high of about 88 degrees, with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms.

Friday, temperatures should reach a high of about 80 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

A partnership of Washtenaw County agencies determines when the county's "Heatwave Response Plan" goes into effect. Partners include the American Red Cross Washtenaw County Chapter, City of Ann Arbor Office of Emergency Management, Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, Humane Society of Huron Valley, Washtenaw County Public Health Department and Washtenaw County Sheriff Emergency Services Division.

There are two thresholds officials use to determine when conditions are extreme enough to warrant implementation of the plan, said Marc Breckenridge, emergency services director of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

  • After two consecutive days of heat advisories issued by the National Weather Service
  • Very hot conditions combined with widespread power outages

During the plan, free transportation to designated cooling centers will be offered to the elderly, people with heat-sensitive conditions and people with disabilities by calling the County Emergency Operations Center at (734) 973-4900.

The centers are free and will be open to the public during business hours, when the county issues the order to put the plan into effect.

For now, here's a list of area public libraries where people can relax in air conditioning:

  • Ann Arbor District Library at 343 S. Fifth Ave. in Ann Arbor
  • Ann Arbor District Library, Pittsfield Branch, at 2359 Oak Valley Drive in Ann Arbor
  • Ann Arbor District Library, Malletts Creek Branch, 3090 E. Eisenhower Parkway in Ann Arbor
  • Ann Arbor District Library, West Branch, 2503 Jackson Ave. in Ann Arbor
  • Ann Arbor District Library, Traverwood Branch, 3333 Traverwood Drive in Ann Arbor
  • Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St. in Chelsea
  • Milan Public Library, 151 Wabash St. in Milan
  • Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St. in Dexter
  • Saline District Library, 555 N. Maple Rd. in Saline
  • Manchester District Library, 912 City Rd. in Manchester
  • Ypsilanti District Library, Whittaker Branch, 5577 Whittaker Road in Ypsilanti
  • Ypsilanti District Library, Michigan Branch, 229 W. Michigan Avenue in Ypsilanti
  • Ypsilanti District Library, Superior Branch, 8795 MacArthur Boulevard in Ypsilanti

Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.

Comments

jns131

Thu, Jun 21, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.

Channel 4 at 5 said that Willow Run hit 96 while Ann Arbor and Detroit hit 95. Interesting how we hit the big number. Glad to hear we are getting a huge storm and heat relief.

Tom Todd

Thu, Jun 21, 2012 : 10:28 p.m.

huge storm=a few sprinkes

Donna DeButts

Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 5:07 p.m.

The Ypsilanti District Library is also pleased to offer cooling center services during these HOT days. You can visit YDL-Whittaker at 5577 Whittaker Road or YDL-Michigan at 229 W. Michigan Avenue (in historic downtown Ypsilanti) from 9 am to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am to 6 pm on Friday and Saturday. YDL-Whittaker is open from 1 - 5 pm on Sunday as well. YDL-Superior at 8795 MacArthur is open Monday, 12-6 pm, Tuesday, 10 am-6 pm, Wednesday and Thursday, 4-8 pm, and Saturday, 10 am-6 pm. For more information, call 734-482-4110 or visit www.ypsilibrary.org.

Leslee Niethammer

Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 12:34 p.m.

Saline District Library was not included in this list, but we are open and here for anyone to visit. The library is located at 555 N. Maple Rd., Saline, MI. Hours are M - TH 9 - 9, F & SAT 10 - 5 and SUN 1 - 5. Phone: (734) 429-5450.

jcj

Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 4:06 a.m.

Go to the cube on Oak Valley and watch some hockey. Nice and cool in there and plenty of parking.

jns131

Thu, Jun 21, 2012 : 2:43 p.m.

O the ice rinks. Arctic Edge in Canton is hosting a DJ event this weekend. Another great way to cool off. Another is in Chelsea. Otherwise basement floors work wonders too.

JRW

Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 3:05 a.m.

Some of the area library branches are quite small and have very limited seating. Just mentioning this if the elderly are going to use libraries as cooling centers; there may not be places to sit. Briarwood mall might be a better choice--larger and more room to walk around and also sit. On a related note: did the Y close today because of heat-related issues in the failure of their power system? Does anyone know if it will open tomorrow? That building is another good choice for a cooling center. Hotter and hotter summers, folks.

David Cahill

Wed, Jun 20, 2012 : 12:10 a.m.

It's great that the libraries are leading the way on this!

jns131

Thu, Jun 21, 2012 : 2:44 p.m.

Another great excuse to get your summer reading in or do an event.