Heat Risk to Seniors and Disabled: How to Help

The city is concerned about the area’s most vulnerable citizens during the intense heat of this week. They sent out this verbatim statement today; please share the information with those who need it:

Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. announced this morning that the Jackson Fire Department will be performing wellness checks on elderly and disabled citizens during the hot temperatures this week.

Citizens may call 311 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. through Friday and ask to have JFD check on any disabled or elderly resident. The fire department will dispatch firefighters from one of its 21 firehouses located closest to the address of the person.

“These triple digit temperatures can be extremely dangerous to our most vulnerable citizens,” said Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. “We want to make sure that we are checking on our elderly and disabled during these high temperatures.”

The City also reminds seniors that the City’s Senior Citizens Centers are air-conditioned and open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The centers have many activities and provide a great way to escape summer heat. Seniors can visit one of the following locations:

Johnnie Champion Center 1355 Hattiesburg Street

Tougaloo Community Center 318 Vine Street

Golden Key Community Center 3450 Albermarle Road

Northside Community Center 104 East Northside Drive

Smith Robertson Community Center 505 John Hart Street

Sykes Community Center 520 Sykes Road

T. L. Love Community Center 2912 Holmes Avenue

The City also announces that it will open Northside Community Center and Smith Roberson Community Center from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Saturday June 30, 2012 in anticipation of the triple digit temperatures that day.