Calvert County Cooling Centers Available During Sweltering Temperatures
The county’s community centers and the Calvert Library’s Prince Frederick Branch will be open during regular hours and safe drinking water is available in each of them. Residents who need to take refuge in a safe, cool place may go to one of the following locations:
Harriet E. Brown Community Center
901 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick
Open Sunday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
Northeast Community Center
4075 Gordon Stinnett Ave., Chesapeake Beach
Open Sunday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
Mt. Hope Community Center
104 Pushaw Station Road, Sunderland
Open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Sunday, 12:30-6 p.m.
Southern Community Center
20 Appeal Lane, Lusby
Open Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; closed Sunday
Calvert Library, Prince Frederick Branch
850 Costley Way, Prince Frederick
Open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. -5 p.m.; closed Sunday
As the summer heat begins, it is important to stay cool and hydrated. When the National Weather issues a Heat Advisory, Excessive Heat Watch, Excessive Heat Warning, or Air Quality Alert of Orange or greater, the following public buildings are open during regular business hours for use by residents:
Capital Clubhouse (Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
3033 Waldorf Market Place, Waldorf
Richard R. Clark Senior Center (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
1210 Charles Street, La Plata
Nanjemoy Community Center (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
4375 Port Tobacco Road, Nanjemoy
Charles County Public Libraries
(All branches: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 8 p.m; Friday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.)
La Plata Branch, 2 Garrett Avenue, La Plata
P.D. Brown Memorial Branch, 50 Village Street, Waldorf
Potomac Branch, 3225 Ruth B. Swan Drive, Indian Head
Waldorf West Library, 10405 O'Donnell Place, Waldorf
Outdoor Pools (Monday through Friday, Noon – 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon– 6 p.m.)
La Plata High School, 6035 Radio Station Road, La Plata
Thomas Stone High School, 3785 Leonardtown Road, Waldorf
McDonough High School, 7165 Marshall Corner Road, Pomfret
Indoor Pools
Monday through Sunday, noon- 5 p.m.
Donald M. Wade Aquatic Center at St. Charles High School, 5305 Piney Church Road, Waldorf
North Point High School, 2500 Davis Road, Waldorf
Monday through Friday, Noon – 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon– 5 p.m.
Lackey High School, 3000 Chicamuxen Rd, Indian Head
St. Mary’s County Government Cooling Centers
St. Mary's County Government will also have cooling centers during regular hours. Residents, who need to take refuge in a cool place, can go to one of the following locations:
Garvey Senior Activity Center
41780 Baldridge Street
Leonardtown
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* / Monday - Friday
Loffler Senior Activity Center
21905 Chancellor's Run Rd.
Great Mills
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.* / M - F
Northern Senior Activity Center
29655 Charlotte Hall Road
Charlotte Hall
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* / M F
Charlotte Hall Library
37600 New Market Road
Charlotte Hall
9 a.m. – 8 p.m.* / M – Th
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.* / Fr - Sat
Leonardtown Library
23250 Hollywood Road
Leonardtown
9 a.m. – 8 p.m.* / Monday - Thursday
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.* / Friday - Saturday
Lexington Park Library
21677 FDR Blvd.
Lexington Park
9 a.m. – 8 p.m.* / M - Thu
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.* / Fr - Sat
1 p.m. – 5 p.m.* / Sundays
*Times listed above are normal business hours and may change.
To avoid heat-related issues, take additional precautions if you work or spend time outside during extreme heat. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water. Visit www.charlescountymd.gov/es/em/emergency-management for the latest list of cooling centers.
Citizens should call 9-1-1 in the event of any emergency, heat-related or otherwise. For additional preparedness information, visit:
Preparedness Tips for Extreme Heat: www.ready.gov/heat or www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/index.shtml
Heat safety resources: www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/ww.shtml
Air Quality Safety information: www.nws.noaa.gov/airquality/
Heat illness Information: health.maryland.gov/extremeheat/facts/Pages/home.aspx
· Drink plenty of fluids; water is best.
· Avoid beverages containing alcohol, caffeine or large amounts of sugar as they can dehydrate the body.
· Stay in an air-conditioned room or building during the hottest part of the day.
· Stay out of the sun.
· Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
· Check on elderly relatives and neighbors.
· Never leave children or pets in parked cars since temperatures can rise to 130 degrees inside vehicles in only a few minutes even with the windows rolled down.
Heat can affect anyone, but most at risk are the very young, very old and people with underlying health problems. Symptoms of heat illness include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, nausea, weak but rapid pulse and headaches. People with these symptoms should find shade, drink water slowly and make sure there is good ventilation. Those with severe symptoms should seek medical attention.