 For release: July 21, 2014
Contact:
David Johnson, public health, 612-348-6150
Jay Meehl, geographic information systems, 612-596-0700
Maria Elena Baca, public affairs, 612-348-7865
News Release
In a normal year, about 75 Americans die of complications from overheating. Young children, senior citizens and people who are sick or overweight are most vulnerable.
With very high temperatures forecast for the next few days, Hennepin County is launching an interactive map to help residents find free public places to go for cool air, such as public libraries, shopping malls and Salvation Army centers, as well as places that might require a fee, including community centers and movie theaters.
The map allows visitors to choose from color-coded cooling options, to zoom by address or zip code and to see transit options to each location. Clicking on individual locations also provides additional information about each site. The application also is usable on smart phones.
"The excessive heat warning today reminds us that
when the weather gets hot, it's important to take steps to keep your body cool
and be aware of the signs of heat exposure," said David Johnson, Hennepin County community health program supervisor. "This resource provides residents information about a variety of places
they can go to escape the heat."
The map is part of a larger initiative by Hennepin County to use existing mapping data to connect residents to county services. The county already has provided similar maps around the topics of road construction and beach safety.
“User-friendly interactive web maps provide easy access to important information,”
said Hennepin County GIS Coordinator Jay Meehl. “Not only are we providing a map
of nearby services, we're providing a tool for residents to make better
decisions."
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Look for more news on the Hennepin County website at www.hennepin.us/news.
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