In response to the excessive heat advisories still in effect, County Executive William R. Steinhaus has announced that Dutchess County will keep the current “cooling centers” open to the public through Thursday, August 3.  These centers are located in the City of Poughkeepsie, the City of Beacon and South Amenia and are open from 12 noon until 8 PM.  Each center is staffed by nurses from the Dutchess County Department of Health and the Red Cross will provide food and cold drinks.

In addition, a new cooling center is being opened in Rhinebeck at Wells Manor.  The center will open today, Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 pm through 8:00 pm and Thursday from 12 Noon until 8:00 pm. 

According to Steinhaus, “These centers are available to meet the needs of our frail elderly as well as families without air conditioning.  We are thankful for our collaborative partners in organizing these centers: American Red Cross, Dutchess County Community Action Partnership and Salvation Army and the County Departments of Emergency Response, Health, Mental Hygiene and Office for Aging.  When I visited the Poughkeepsie and Beacon sites on Tuesday, I was impressed by the commitment of our county staff and volunteers.  This has been a good test of our working together in preparation of a response to a potentially larger event.”

The cooling centers are located at:

City of Beacon
Dutchess County Community Action Agency
95 Catherine Street
(845) 831-2620

City of Poughkeepsie
Salvation Army
19 Pershing Avenue
(845) 471-1210

Town of Amenia
South Amenia Presbyterian Church
229 South Amenia Road 
(845) 373-9959

Rhinebeck
Wells Manor
55 Astor Drive
(845) 876-8053

For more information about the cooling center closest to you, call 211.