Fresno County health officials prepare for extreme heat

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – As the Central Valley prepares for the Fourth of July, the Fresno County Department of Public Health is preparing for what could be a record-setting heatwave.

The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat warning from 11 a.m. on Tuesday until 8 a.m. Wednesday with temperatures possibly reaching upwards of 110 into the weekend .

Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra says this heat wave should be treated like a hurricane or tornado – an extreme weather event.

“People don’t think that heat could cause that level of disruption in people’s lives, but it can and it does,” Vhora said.

The county views excessive heat impact on several different levels.

On the individual level, talking with physicians and caregivers to monitor individual patient health and what to look for. Also, informing the public about cooling centers and encouraging everyone to keep an eye on their neighbors.

On the macro level, assessing and anticipating how infrastructure will respond.
Especially skilled nursing homes and senior living homes, preparing for things like power outages or evacuations.

A map of cooling centers and public spaces with air conditioning is available online .

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