Lexington Emergency Management issues heat warning

LEXINGTON, Kentucky – With above average temperatures expected this week, the Lexington Division of Emergency Management has issued a Phase I Heat Warning, in effect through Saturday evening, June 22.

The alert will be activated when the heat index is expected to reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Agencies working with vulnerable populations should ensure emergency plans are in place, authorities said.

As part of the alert, homeless people can ride LexTran to cooling stations for free. Outreach teams like HopeMobile, Lexington Street Outreach and Compassionate Caravan are distributing water and helping people get to shaded areas or cooling stations.

Community centres such as Dunbar, Kenwick, Castlewood and Tates Creek will be open until the early evening hours and will also be available as cooling stations, officials added.

The Department of Disaster Management said residents should take precautions when outdoors, especially during the late morning and afternoon hours. Young children, the elderly and people with medical conditions are vulnerable to heat-related illness and should seek shelter if possible.

For additional resources, visit BeReadyLexington.com/extreme-heat, Lexington Emergency Management’s Facebook page, and its Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts: @LexKYEM.