Cooling shelter aids community

On Friday, Aug. 22 at around 9 a.m., the Cathlamet Public Library staff was setting up its booth for the second day of the Wahkiakum County Fair. Even that early in the morning, the temperature was already beginning to get hot. Librarian Vicki Franklin said, "We need to open the library today and tomorrow as a cooling shelter for people to get out of the heat." The staff then discussed further who would be available to remain at the library for this emergency cooling shelter.

Wahkiakum County Emergency Management Coordinator Austin Smith, who happened to be set-up directly across from the library at the fair, agreed regarding the need and immediately sent out a county-wide emergency alert that the Cathlamet Public Library would be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22-23, as an Emergency Cooling Shelter.

For those two days of hot weather, over 20 people specifically came to the library to get out of the heat and let their bodies cool down and stabilize. A big thank you goes out to Austin for immediately responding and sending out the emergency alert. Another big thank you goes out to Jennifer and Tochina for volunteering and staffing the Emergency Cooling Shelter. A big shout out goes to Vicki for recognizing the need, recommending action, contacting folks, and for her own extra-duty volunteer work staffing the Emergency Cooling Shelter herself.

If you would like to sign up for emergency alerts via Wahkiakum County's Hyper-Reach platform, visit http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us and look for Department of Emergency Management (DEM) under "Sheriff's Office," located within the "Departments" tab.