By FOX23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — As dangerously high temperatures move into the Tulsa area, the Salvation Army is activating its emergency heat relief response to help protect the people most vulnerable to the extreme heat.
Forecasts show temperatures climbing into the triple digits, with heat indexes reaching dangerous levels.
While many people can escape the heat inside homes and buildings with air conditioning, people experiencing homelessness may face prolonged exposure to those conditions.
“The temperatures that we are seeing, especially into later parts of next week right now, are some of the highest I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” said Major Carlyle Gargis, the Area Commander for the Salvation Army Tulsa Area Command.
Starting Monday, the Salvation Army’s DayWatch Heat Relief Teams will be out in the community providing resources to people living outside.
“They will load it up with not only water and drinks, but also we will have some snacks, a little bit of food on board. We also have some hygiene items and other things that people may need.”
The Salvation Army will also operate a cooling station at its Center of Hope, providing a place for people to get relief from the dangerous temperatures.
Tulsa Fire Department officials said people experiencing homelessness can be especially vulnerable during extreme heat since they often don’t have regular access to air conditioning, shade or hydration.
“The folks in Tulsa that are unhoused don’t really get a break for that, whereas we have air conditioning,” said Andy Little, Public Information Officer for the Tulsa Fire Department. “We take time to get in the shade. [They] maybe don’t have much access to hydration and resources.”
Fire officials encourage people to look out for signs of heat-related illness, including excessive sweating or a lack of sweating, cramps, fast pulse rates or changes in behavior.
They said anyone who sees someone experiencing a heat emergency should call 911.
“Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water,” Little advised. “Drink water before you are going to be out in those environments.”
Major Gargis said while summer is often a time for vacations and outdoor activities, the season can represent something different and more dangerous for others.
“There are other folks that this is not a season for vacation. They are just trying to get by, trying to find a cool place to stay, trying to find a roof over their head.”
The Salvation Army said community support can help provide basic needs and life-saving resources during the extreme heat.
In particular, the organization is asking the community to help by donating cases of bottled water to support its DayWatch Heat Relief Teams.
Cases can be delivered to either of the following locations:
The Salvation Area Command
924 S. Hudson Avenue
Monday through Friday during business hours
The Salvation Army Center of Hope
120 N. Denver Avenue
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
