Community Corner

Air Quality Alert for Carroll County, Cooling Centers Open

The state has issued a code orange alert due to rising temperatures.

Here comes summer.

Carroll County is opening cooling centers to help individuals deal with the forecast heat.

The Maryland Department of the Environment issued a Code Orange air quality alert for the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore Metro areas in advance of the hot and muggy weather in this week's forecast. 

Find out what's happening in Eldersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Temperatures are expected to hit the low-90s Thursday and Friday in Carroll County, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Just a few days ago, high temperatures were in the mid-60s.

Find out what's happening in Eldersburgwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A “code orange” means air quality will be of particular concern for sensitive groups: the elderly, the very young, people with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases and people with other chronic illnesses that are aggravated by heat.

Because of the anticipated high temperatures and humidity, the Carroll County Department of Citizen Services will operate six cooling centers around the county. Residents who are vulnerable to extreme heat and who do not have air-conditioning in their homes are encouraged to cool off in any of the following locations until the close of business:

Cooling centers are open during regular business hours at County Senior Centers and the Dept. of Citizen Services. Water will be available for those who need it at any of the cooling centers.

  • Citizen Services Office Building, 10 Distillery Drive, Westminster (8 AM - 5 PM, Mon. - Fri)
  • Mount Airy Senior and Community Center, 703 Ridge Avenue, Mount Airy (8 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon. - Fri)
  • North Carroll Senior and Community Center, 2328 Hanover Pike, Greenmount (8 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon. - Fri)
  • South Carroll Senior and Community Center, 5928 Mineral Hill Road, Eldersburg (8 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon. - Fri)
  • Taneytown Senior and Community Center, 220 Roberts Mill Road, Taneytown (8 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon. - Fri)
  • Westminster Senior and Community Center, 125 Stoner Ave., Westminster (8 AM - 4:30 PM, Mon. - Fri)

All branches of the Carroll County Public Library System, Monday – Thursday 9:00 AM – 8:45 PM; Friday and Saturday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

  • Eldersburg Branch, 6400 Hemlock Drive, Eldersburg
  • Finksburg Branch, 2265 Old Westminster Pike, Finksburg
  • Mt. Airy Branch, 705 Ridge Avenue, Mt. Airy
  • North Carroll Branch, 2255 Hanover Pike, Greenmount
  • Taneytown Branch, 10 Grand Drive, Taneytown
  • Westminster Branch, 50 East. Main Street, Westminster

Open 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm during Code Orange and Red days which fall on Sundays are:

  • Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll Street -- Westminster
  • Cavalry Methodist Church in Mt Airy 403 S. Main Street -- Mount Airy, MD 21771

The Carroll County Emergency Management Division encourages people to follow these safety tips when temperatures and humidity are high:

  • Slow down. Strenuous activities should be reduced or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, and light colored clothing.
  • Eat fewer proteins and drink plenty of water.
  • Stay in air-conditioning

Additional information, including the State Heat Plan, Heat Reports, FAQs, and updated contact information is posted on the DHMH site: http://dhmh.maryland.gov/extremeheat/SitePages/Home.aspx.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Eldersburg