City of Pocatello opens ‘cooling shelters’ to beat the heat

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — With temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s and climb above 100 degrees in the coming weeks, the City of Pocatello is opening three cooling shelter locations to help residents stay safe during extreme heat.

The cooling shelters will open Friday, July 10, and remain available for 45 days. City officials say they will evaluate weather forecasts at the end of that period to determine whether the program should be extended.

The shelters will be located at City Hall, the Marshall Public Library and Pocatello Animal Services.

City Hall, located at 911 N. 7th Avenue, will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors will have access to bottled water, charging outlets and indoor space to escape the heat. The City Council Chambers will also be available when not in use for meetings.

The Marshall Public Library, located at 113 S. Garfield Avenue, will serve as a cooling shelter during its regular operating hours. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The library is closed Sundays.

Pocatello Animal Services, located at 3100 Avenue of the Chiefs, will also be available during normal business hours. Officials say residents may bring their pets with them while using the cooling station, providing an option for those who do not want to leave animals behind. The facility is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Sundays.

City officials are encouraging residents to take advantage of the cooling shelters when needed and to check on neighbors, family members and friends who may be more vulnerable to extreme temperatures, including older adults, young children and people without access to air conditioning.

"As temperatures rise, we want to make sure everyone has a safe, comfortable place to cool off," Mayor Mark Dahlquist said. "We encourage everyone to take advantage of these cooling shelters if needed and to help spread the word so those who could benefit know these locations are available."

More information is available through the City of Pocatello.