As temperatures across Central Illinois continue to rise, the City of Bloomington is reminding residents there are places around town to help them keep cool.
A Heat Advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service as a combination of heat and humidity will make it feel as warm as 110° Tuesday.
Cooling Centers are available around town for residents -who may not have another place to escape the temperature. The center is a short-term emergency spot where people can get out of dangerous temperatures to prevent injury or loss of life. No food or sleeping accommodations are provided and the stations are usually 24-hour businesses where people can stop in. Please note: Due to COVID some places my require face coverings and may limit the number of people permitted at one time.
Below is a listing from the McLean County Government website of cooling stations in Bloomington:
- Bloomington Public Library, 205 E. Olive St., Bloomington, 309-828-6091 (M-Th 9 am – 9 pm & F/Sa 9 am – 5 pm/Sun 1 – 5 pm)
- Connect Transit Bus, availability determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on available resources & weather; parking lot of the McLean Co Health Dept, 200 W. Front St., Bloomington
- Denny’s Restaurant, 701 Eldorado St, Bloomington 309-663-5251, open 24 hours
- IDHS Family Community Resource Center, 501 W. Washington St., Bloomington 309-451-6000 8:30 am – 5 pm, M-F
- IHOP, 2109 E Empire, Bloomington, 309-662-8895, 7am – 4 pm
- Walmart, 2225 W. Market St., Bloomington, 309-828-5646, open 7 am – 11 pm
- TA Truck Stop, 505 Truckers Lane, Bloomington, 309-827-4676, open 24 hours
- Salvation Army Safe Harbor, 208 N Oak St, Bloomington. Open for people that are residents or day center patrons but are not banned from the property or from receiving services. Must be vaccinated or have negative COVID test.
- Home Sweet Home Ministries, 303 E. Oakland Ave, Bloomington. Open 24 hours. Families and single women can stop into the lobby for 15 minutes to cool down. Residents are allowed during normal residential hours.
The county also has an interactive map of the cooling stations that residents can click on HERE.
