{"id":1662,"date":"2025-10-15T14:27:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T18:27:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-public-health-tracking\/?page_id=1662"},"modified":"2026-07-08T10:14:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T14:14:02","slug":"cooling-centers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-public-health-tracking\/climate-weather\/cooling-centers\/","title":{"rendered":"Cooling Centers"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-1662\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-1662-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-1662-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-1662-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-headline panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-headline so-widget-sow-headline-default-dcc4b020ac78-1662\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div class=\"sow-headline-container \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"sow-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCooling Centers\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"decoration\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"decoration-inside\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-1662-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>This map was created to help community members find a Cooling Center. These are places where you can go to stay cool on hot days.\u00a0 Most locations are not shelters. If you need housing or healthcare assistance, contact <a href=\"https:\/\/211virginia.org\/\" aria-label=\"Link Virginia 211\">Virginia 211<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>During extreme heat, spending time in a cooler environment will help prevent illness. For more tips, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/severe-weather-preparedness\/extreme-heat-and-heat-related-illnesses\/\" aria-label=\"Link Extreme Heat and Heat-Related Illnesses\">Extreme Heat and Heat-Related Illness.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This map may not be updated in real-time. Be sure to call before you go to confirm hours of operation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-1662-0-0-2\" class=\"widget_text so-panel widget widget_custom_html\" data-index=\"2\" ><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><style>\r\n\t#wpsl-stores .wpsl-store-thumb {height:45px !important; width:45px !important;}\r\n\t#wpsl-stores, #wpsl-direction-details, #wpsl-gmap {height:350px !important;}\r\n\t#wpsl-gmap .wpsl-info-window {max-width:225px !important;}\r\n\t.wpsl-input label, #wpsl-radius label, #wpsl-category label {width:95px;}\r\n\t#wpsl-search-input  {width:179px;}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<div id=\"wpsl-wrap\">\r\n\t<div class=\"wpsl-search wpsl-clearfix wpsl-filter wpsl-checkboxes-enabled\">\r\n\t\t<div id=\"wpsl-search-wrap\">\r\n\t\t\t<form autocomplete=\"off\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpsl-input\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div><label for=\"wpsl-search-input\">Your location<\/label><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<input id=\"wpsl-search-input\" type=\"text\" value=\"\" name=\"wpsl-search-input\" placeholder=\"\" aria-required=\"true\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wpsl-select-wrap\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"wpsl-radius\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"wpsl-radius-dropdown\">Search radius<\/label>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<select id=\"wpsl-radius-dropdown\" class=\"wpsl-dropdown\" name=\"wpsl-radius\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<option value=\"10\">10 mi<\/option><option selected=\"selected\" value=\"25\">25 mi<\/option><option value=\"50\">50 mi<\/option><option value=\"100\">100 mi<\/option><option value=\"200\">200 mi<\/option><option value=\"500\">500 mi<\/option>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/select>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"wpsl-results\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"wpsl-results-dropdown\">Results<\/label>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<select id=\"wpsl-results-dropdown\" class=\"wpsl-dropdown\" name=\"wpsl-results\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<option selected=\"selected\" value=\"25\">25<\/option><option value=\"50\">50<\/option><option value=\"75\">75<\/option><option value=\"100\">100<\/option><option value=\"500\">500<\/option>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/select>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n<ul id=\"wpsl-checkbox-filter\" class=\"wpsl-checkbox-3-columns\"><li><label><input type=\"checkbox\" value=\"23\"  \/>Community Center\/Other<\/label><\/li><li><label><input type=\"checkbox\" value=\"19\"  \/>Library<\/label><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wpsl-search-btn-wrap\"><input id=\"wpsl-search-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Search\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/form>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n\t<div id=\"wpsl-gmap\" class=\"wpsl-gmap-canvas\"><\/div>\r\n\t<div id=\"wpsl-result-list\">\r\n\t\t<div id=\"wpsl-stores\" >\r\n\t\t\t<ul><\/ul>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div id=\"wpsl-direction-details\">\r\n\t\t\t<ul><\/ul>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-1662-0-0-3\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-accordion panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-accordion so-widget-sow-accordion-default-d9295f5bfa93-1662\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><div>\n\t<div class=\"sow-accordion\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-anchor-id=\"frequently-asked-questions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header-container\" role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-header\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" id=\"accordion-label-frequently-asked-questions\" aria-controls=\"accordion-content-frequently-asked-questions\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-title sow-accordion-title-icon-left\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrequently Asked Questions\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-open-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf218;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-close-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sow-icon-ionicons\" data-sow-icon=\"&#xf209;\"\n\t\t \n\t\taria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"sow-accordion-panel-content\"\n\t\t\t\trole=\"region\"\n\t\t\t\taria-labelledby=\"accordion-label-frequently-asked-questions\"\n\t\t\t\tid=\"accordion-content-frequently-asked-questions\"\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none;\"\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sow-accordion-panel-border\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>What is a cooling center?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A cooling center is a cool and safe place you can go when it is very hot outside. These are typically indoor places with air conditioning.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do I find the cooling center closest to my location?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you click \"Allow\" when the Use Your Location window pops up, the map will zoom in to display cooling centers closest to your location. You can also enter your address or your zip code in the search bar.<\/p>\n<p>Libraries are shown in blue<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8330 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/blue2x.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"16\" height=\"24\" \/>.<\/p>\n<p>Community centers and other types (rec centers, fire stations, etc) are shown in green.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8329 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/218\/dark-green2x.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"15\" height=\"22\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Where does the list of cooling centers come from?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Virginia 2-1-1 maintains a current list of cooling centers during summer months, and this list is provided to VDH. If you are a building operator or a local government official and need a location added\/removed, please reach out to <a href=\"https:\/\/211virginia.org\/about-us\/211-virginia-team\/\">Virginia 2-1-1 Data Services.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>During extreme heat, many localities will list cooling centers on their local government website.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is available at a cooling center?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At a minimum, the location will be cooled and will have seating and restrooms available. Additional resources could be available depending on location. Meals are not usually provided at cooling centers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Are the cooling centers free to use?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Yes. All locations listed on this website are free and open to the public.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Can I bring my pets?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Only service animals are allowed at most public locations such as libraries. We encourage you to call ahead to check if pets are allowed.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What if no cooling centers are open near my location?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you cannot get to an air-conditioned place for at least a couple of hours, take steps to keep cool. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/extreme-heat-and-heat-related-illnesses\/\">Extreme Heat<\/a> for tips. Grocery stores and malls can be good places to stay cool if you cannot find a cooling center near your location.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This map was created to help community members find a Cooling Center. These are places where you can go to stay cool on hot days.\u00a0 Most locations are not shelters. If you need housing or healthcare assistance, contact Virginia 211. During extreme heat, spending time in a cooler environment will help prevent illness. For more [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52,"featured_media":0,"parent":460,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1662","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cooling Centers - Environmental Public Health Tracking<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-public-health-tracking\/climate-weather\/cooling-centers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cooling Centers - Environmental Public Health Tracking\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This map was created to help community members find a Cooling Center. 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