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Cooling Centers Help Marylanders Hide from the Heat

July 3, 2012 | Add a Comment

Joni Mitchell sung the truth when she crooned “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” Those of us without electricity are sure singing the blues – or, more likely, the red-hots. As temperatures surge and a cool breeze remains M.I.A., we need a little help (and a lot of cunning) to beat the heat.

Many of the regions that were hardest-hit by the devilish derechos, (aka “land hurricanes,” which are as scary as they sound) have opened cooling centers for the public. City residents can call 211 to get an overview of centers in their area. The state has expanded the number of cooling centers as repair crews gear up to work well into the weekend. Here are some places that county and city-dwellers can go to hide out from the heat:

Waxter Center for Senior Citizens: 1000 Cathedral Street
Oliver Senior Center: 1700 N. Gay Street
Sandtown-Winchester Senior Center: 1601 N. Baker Street
Hatton Center: 2825 Fait Avenue
John Booth: 229 1/2 S. Eaton Street
Zeta Center: 4501 Reisterstown Road

Northern Community Action Center: 5225 York Road
Southern Community Action Center: 606 Cherry Hill Road (inside the shopping center 2nd floor).
Northwest Community Action Center: 3939 Reisterstown Road
Southeastern Community Action Center: 3411 Bank Street
EasternCommunityActionCenter: 1400 E. Federal Street

Those of us who have four-legged friends to care for do have some options. Animal Control offices in Annapolis and Glen Burnie have extended an open paw to Fido and Fluffy, and the PetSmart stores in those areas are pitching in to function as cooling centers.

Here are the locations and hours for those stores:

Annapolis Pet Smart
2601 Housely Road,Annapolis, 21401
Open 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Sun); 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (Mon-Sat)
Contact Person: Terri Lee (410) 571-8646

Glen Burnie Pet Smart
24 Mountain Road,Glen Burnie, 21061
Open 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (Sun); 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (Mon-Sat)
Contact Person: Jennifer Sexton (410) 766-6190

The Community Recreation Center will allow leashed or crated pets. It is located on Cedar Lane Park West, 5181 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD 21044.

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency has posted a complete list of cooling centers across the state here. Check back with our blog to learn about some ways you can keep cool without electricity (it is possible, we promise!) in case you can’t get to a cooling center.

Due to the state-wide State of Emergency, the insurance commissioner for Maryland has also temporarily lifted time restrictions on prescription refills.

- Laura Bogart

To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained physicians and find out why LifeBridge Health is Baltimore's premiere health care organization, call 410-601-WELL.

About Laura Bogart

Laura Bogart is the editorial manager for the marketing department at LifeBridge Health, and the senior writer/editor for Md.MD for Life magazine. She also edits LifeBridge Health's award-winning newsletter The Bridge. She holds an MFA in writing from American University and her work has appeared in numerous literary journals.

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