The Ministry of Emergency Management issues a Phase I heat warning

The Lexington Division of Emergency Management has issued a Phase I Heat Warning and is urging agencies working with vulnerable populations to have emergency preparedness plans in place.

The warning will be activated when the heat index is expected to reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit and will be in effect this morning and will last through Saturday evening.

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

Lexington community centers, including Dunbar, Kenwick, Castlewood and Tates Creek, are open until the early evening hours and are available as cooling stations.