With a summer heat advisory bearing down on the region, the City of Auburn Emergency Management announced Monday that two cooling centers will be open Tuesday and Wednesday for anyone who needs a break from the rising temperatures. The Ray of Hope Resource Center will operate overnight with check-in at 9:00 p.m. and check-out at 7:00 a.m., while the Auburn Senior Activity Center will serve as a daytime option from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. City officials are urging residents who do not have air conditioning to use public cooling spaces and to keep an eye on older neighbors and anyone else who might struggle in the heat.
Cooling center hours and contacts
According to City of Auburn Emergency Management, the cooling center activation is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Ray of Hope will provide overnight space with check-in at 9:00 p.m. and check-out at 7:00 a.m., and the Auburn Senior Activity Center will be open for daytime cooling from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The city lists contact numbers for each site: Ray of Hope at 253-334-4860 and the Senior Activity Center at 253-931-3016.
Why the city opened the sites
The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a heat advisory for much of the area for Tuesday and Wednesday, with forecast highs in the upper 80s and low 90s, prompting Auburn to activate extra cooling resources. Public Health - Seattle & King County warns that hot weather poses elevated risk for older adults, infants and people with chronic health conditions and recommends seeking out air-conditioned spaces and checking in on vulnerable neighbors.
What the sites provide and who they serve
Auburn Examiner and regional shelter listings describe Ray of Hope as a drop-in resource that provides meals and wrap-around services for people experiencing homelessness, while the Auburn Senior Activity Center typically focuses on older adults but opens to all during extreme heat events. Local and regional sources including King County RHA note that capacity and services can shift between activations, so residents are encouraged to call the phone numbers in the city announcement for the most current details.
Where to check for updates
The city is directing residents to its emergency information resources and social media channels for real-time updates and further instructions. The announcement points to the City of Auburn website for additional emergency information. For non-emergency questions, residents can follow Auburn Emergency Management on social media or contact the cooling centers directly at the listed phone numbers.
For urgent health or safety concerns during extreme heat, residents should call 911. For help finding shelter or other non-emergency assistance, they can contact local service lines such as 211 or King County shelter navigation resources. Neighbors are encouraged to check in on older adults, people with medical conditions and anyone who might be at higher risk from the heat.
