Cooling centers remain closed despite high temperatures

73-year-old had nowhere to go during power outage

Emma Lockhart
10:42 AM, Jul 28, 2018
11:15 AM, Jul 28, 2018

Cooling centers remain closed in the Kern River Valley, even though temperatures have been in the triple digits for days. One 73-year-old woman was left without a place to go when her power went out Friday morning -- prompting the fear and uncertainty in this heat wave.

KERO
Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - A 73-year-old Kernville woman was left with nowhere to go Friday morning when there was a temporary power outage in her area. 

When Karen Hartfield drove to the nearest cooling center in Lake Isabella she was turned away.

Cooling centers in valley areas in Kern County are only open when temperatures are forecasted to be 105 or above. Kernville on Friday was forecasted to be 103. 

According to the Department of Aging and Adult Services, that temperature threshold is based off of what the National Weather Service determines to be excessive heat. 

Hartfield hopes that they consider changing that threshold to 100 degrees. She fears for herself and the elderly residents in Kernville. 

The Department of Aging and Adult Services says that if they had more funding they would consider that option. Currently, the cooling center program is funded through a PG&E grant. 

The department says to contact their office at (661) 868-1000 if a cooling center is not open in your area and you need assistance or a place to go. 

Copyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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