40 people use cooling centers; more waiting for fans

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Fort Wayne officials have set up two cooling stations to help people stay safe in these dangerously hot temperatures, but only 40 people have taken advantage of them.

City officials say many families don't have air conditioning, but it appears they just don't want to leave home. "We know that there's a sizeable portion that don't. And certainly a lot of older homes that don't have air conditioning. In some cases people have air conditioning but perhaps it's not working or functioning properly," said spokesman Frank Suarez.

So far, only about 40 people have gone to the cooling stations to get relief. The downtown location at the Community Center is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the Public Safety Academy is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day this week. Those centers also have water available.

City leaders suspect people simply don't want to leave their homes. "It's hard for any of us to leave our home and to go somewhere but in this kind of a condition, sometimes it is best to get some relief for part of the day. Maybe you have a fan and can stick it out for part of the day, but you certainly need some relief," Suarez said.

At the Salvation Army , Social Service Director Timothy Smith said there's a waiting list of people who need fans and air conditioners. "Especially for air conditioners. Those are the items that we try to make sure that they go to individuals that have health conditions that are aggravated by the heat," said Smith.

As temperatures continue to climb, more names wind up on the waiting list. "We've emptied out this room a couple of times now. Pretty much as soon as we get this stuff in it's going out the door within a day or two," Smith said.

The Salvation Army's helped over 30 families through Operation Cool Breeze . Most say it's unbearable to be in a home without a way to cool down. "They're talking about how the house is so hot it's hard to stand, especially for the people that have breathing problems. It just makes it worse," he said.

You can donate a new or gently used fan or air conditioner unit at the Salvation Army's facility on North Clinton Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Donations are tax deductible.