Residents urged to use caution during heat wave

By David Owens, newseditor@laurelleadercall.com Laurel Leader-Call The Laurel Leader-Call Fri Jul 30, 2010, 03:06 PM CDT

LAUREL — Jones County residents are urged to take extreme caution as temperatures and heat index values top out over 100 degrees this weekend.

The Jones County Emergency Management Agency hosted a Web-based special weather briefing with the National Weather Service in Jackson this afternoon to discuss this weekend’s weather.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for all area through Sunday evening, with the hottest areas to be in northeast Louisiana, northwest Mississippi and southeast Arkansas.

The Jones County will experience temperatures around 100 degrees with heat index values likely near the 110 degree mark this weekend. Weather forecasters predict the heat advisory to continue likely into the latter part of next week in southeast Mississippi due to scattered showers increasing the humidity.

Don McKinnon, executive director of the Jones County Emergency Management Agency, said area residents should “stay cool and stay smart” this weekend.

“If you don’t need to be outside, don’t go outside,” he said. “Young children and the elderly especially need to stay in the air conditioning.”

McKinnon noted that the Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army will set up cooling stations all day Saturday and Sunday for those who need relief from the heat.

The Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross will have its cooling station, located at 401 West Oak Street, open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. both days. The Salvation Army’s cooling station, located at 205 North 13th Avenue, will be open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. However, those who wish to stay overnight at the Salvation Army’s shelter can make those arrangements.

McKinnon said he was particularly concerned about those who have to work in the heat, including local police and fire response units.

Jones County Fire Coordinator Dan McKenna said volunteer fire units will be receiving support by way of water and electrolytes from the Red Cross during any prolonged responses.

For more information on this story, see Saturday’s edition of the Laurel Leader-Call.

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