Lewisburg church opens cooling center during dangerous heat wave

The shelter at Saint Paul’s @ The Farm, UCC, 50 Brookpark Circle, was scheduled to be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, with air-conditioning and free meals available. St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Lewisburg opened its doors as a cooling center during the early-July heat wave, giving Union County residents a place to escape dangerous temperatures.

Rev. Timothy Hogan-Palazzo said the church sees serving the community as part of its mission, and the building was made available when the heat became dangerous or simply too uncomfortable for people to manage at home. For residents without reliable cooling, the site offered a rare indoor refuge during the hottest part of the day.

The National Weather Service office in State College issued hazardous weather outlooks for Union County on July 1 and July 2. Dangerous, record-breaking heat was expected to continue through the Independence Day weekend, with peak heat indices that could reach 115 degrees.

Pennsylvania’s Ready PA guidance defines extreme heat as temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. Older adults, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions face the highest risk from extreme heat, and outdoor workers are also more likely to suffer heat-related illness. In Union County, the 2020 Census counted 42,681 residents, and 20.5% were 65 or older.

Union County’s 2020 Census counted 42,681 residents, and 20.5% were 65 or older. Union County also points residents to transportation options, including rabbittransit paratransit and Stop Hopper, which can help people reach emergency services and public-safety locations.

Union County’s emergency management office coordinates emergency response and public-safety planning.