Lexington KY Emergency Management issues Phase I Heat Warning through Saturday

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (FOX 56) – The Lexington Division of Emergency Management issued a Phase I Heat Warning on Monday.

The warning calls on authorities to activate emergency plans for “vulnerable populations” due to high temperatures expected over the weekend, the city said in a press release.

“The warning, which is activated when the heat index is expected to reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit, is in effect this morning and will remain through Saturday evening,” city officials said.

According to the civil protection agency, the heat index is calculated based on temperature and humidity, how hot it “feels” outside.

While the alert is active, the following is available to homeless people:

• Travel to cooling stations for free with LexTran
• HopeMobile, Lexington Street Outreach and Compassionate Caravan distribute water throughout the community
• Outreach teams help people reach shaded areas or cooling stations
• Community centers will be opened as cooling stations:
  • Castlewood: 210 Castlewood Drive
  • Dunbar: 545 N. Upper St.
  • Kenwick: 313 Owsley Ave.
  • Tate’s Creek: 3460 Campus Way

“The Division of Emergency Management is urging all residents to take precautions when outdoors, especially during the late morning and afternoon,” the emergency management agency said in a news release. “The very young, the elderly, and people with medical conditions are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness and should seek shelter from the extreme heat. For more information on dealing with extreme heat, visit the Lexington Emergency Management Agency website at BeReadyLexington.com/extreme-heat.”

For more information about the community centers, visit lexingtonky.gov/community-centers.

Stay with FOX 56 Weather Authority all week for the latest weather forecasts.