FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The National Weather Service in Raleigh has issued a hazardous weather outlook for several days beginning Thursday, July 4. Heat index values will be more than 100 degrees over the Independence Day holiday through Monday, July 8. Cumberland County and the City of Fayetteville will open cooling stations over the coming days for residents who do not have access to air conditioning and need a place to get out of the heat.
The Cumberland County Department of Social Services, located at 1225 Ramsey St., will make its auxiliary lobby available as a cooling station during normal business hours, which are Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. DSS will be closed on July 4 in observance of Independence Day. All public lobbies will be available to citizens. Masks or face coverings are encouraged for those with preexisting conditions.
he first-floor lobby of the Cumberland County Department of Public Health, located at 1235 Ramsey St., is available as a cooling stating during normal business hours Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Health Department will be closed on July 4 in observance of Independence Day. Masks or face coverings are required in some areas and immediately following a COVID-19 infection or close contact. Citizens with preexisting conditions are encouraged to wear a mask or face covering.
All eight Cumberland County Public Library locations are available as cooling stations during normal business hours. Libraries will be closed on July 4, but are open Friday, July 5 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, July 6 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Headquarters, Cliffdale Regional, Hope Mills and North Regional libraries are open Sunday, July 7, from 2 to 6 p.m. All libraries are open Monday, July 8 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. To find your local library, go to cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/library-group/library.
The lobbies of Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Centers are open to the public year-round during normal operating hours and can be used as respite from the heat. Parks and Recreation centers will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 4. Recreation center locations, hours, contact information and programming schedules are posted at fcpr.us/facilities/recreation-centers/.
The lobby of Fayetteville Area System of Transit (FAST), located at 505 Franklin St., is open during normal operating hours. See hours at fayettevillenc.gov/city-services/transit/about-fast/operating-hours-schedules. FAST will be closed on July 4 in observance of Independence Day.
The National Weather Service forecasts periods of dangerously hot weather that will continue into the weekend, as temperatures will remain above normal for this time of year. Shade air temperatures will rise well into the 90s each day, while heat index values will peak as high as the upper 90s to near 109. The most dangerous heat will occur Friday, July 5 through Sunday, July 7. These conditions will increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for those without access to air conditioning and those working outdoors. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, avoid strenuous work, check on relatives and neighbors, and never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles.
Stay informed by visiting the County’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov or County social media pages at facebook.com/CumberlandNC, facebook.com/CumberlandCountyNC911 and twitter.com/CumberlandNC.