NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — For the first time in more than ten years, the National Weather Service issued an "Excessive Heat Warning" for our area.
With this dangerous heat, Metro Nashville and several community partners are implementing safety measures to help people beat the heat.
They'll be passing out water, free bus passes and helping people get to extreme heat shelters to make sure the unhoused stay out of the heat and are being taken care of until it subsides.
The Nashville Office of Emergency Management’s Emergency Support Unit will lead heat patrols in encampments around the Metro Nashville area. They'll provide water and arrange transportation to community partners that are offering shelter.
We reached out to the OEM about opening cooling shelters. In an email they said if a cooling shelter is to open they will let the public know. They pointed to their community partners and what they offer.
Community partners per OEM:
Room in The Inn
● Hours & Services: RITI is open M-F from 6AM-2PM and serves lunch. Frozen Pops & Ice Cream encourage folks to come inside and cool off.
● Getting there: #8 bus
● Other Services: SHOWERS are available from 6 am to 11am. People should get there at 6 AM to reserve a spot.
Nashville Rescue Mission
● Hours & Services: Nashville Rescue Mission is a full-service emergency
shelter open 365 days a year / 24 hours a day; offering 3 meals a day, full case management, beds, clothing, showers, respite from the heat and other services.
● Day services and overnight shelter are available for men, women, and families with children. We also have limited isolation/quarantine rooms for guests testing COVID positive - please call ahead for arrangements @ 615-255-2475.
● Getting there: #52B bus, 616 7th Ave. S.
● Pets: Dogs are welcome.
Community Care Fellowship
● Hours & Services: CCF has extended hours during the heat and is open M-F from 8AM-5PM and serves lunch. Frozen Pops & Ice Cream encourage folks to come inside and cool off.
● Getting there: #4 bus 511 S. 8th Street
● Other Services: Showers and Laundry are available.
City Road Chapel – Showers of Blessing
● Hours: Open 7AM to Noon on Monday and Wednesday.
● Getting there: #56 Bus 701 Gallatin Pike S.
● Services: Showers and Laundry; bus passes; food bags; day shelter;Coordinated Entry staff available from 9 a.m. to noon.
Shower the People
Offers Mobile Showers and Outreach at the following locations:
● Monday: Brookmeade Park ***no showers at this location, only outreach
● Tuesday: Green Street Park 5:30 PM
● Wednesday: 4 Wheel Auto at Harding & Nolensville in South Nashville 5:30 PM
● Thursday: Belmont Church on Music Row 9:00 AM
Nashville Public Libraries
● 21 locations across the city. Hours and addresses can be found here. All locations have air conditioning, restrooms, and drinking fountains, as well as computers and power outlets for charging phones and other devices.
The Salvation Army is also doing heat patrols instead of opening a heat relief shelter.
Back in June, their shelter was open for four days. They helped a little more than 40 people. According to the organization, their heat patrols help on average about 100 people a day on top of "normal encampment meal service reach".
During this heat be aware of heat-related illnesses. That could be heat exhaustion or cramps, which can be treated by moving to a cool location and getting hydrated or a heat stroke which is more serious and requires a visit to a hospital immediately.
"That high body temperature does actually start to damage the nerves in the brain and so, that's why they call it a heat stroke. It's not the same as an ischemic stroke, which is blood flow related, but you do see stroke-like or neurologic-like injury to brain," said emergency physician Dr. Mark Sloan.
Doctors suggest staying hydrated and wearing light clothing during this excessive heat.
