With a heat advisory bearing down on Western Washington, Snohomish County is turning public buildings into community chill zones and picking up the bus fare to help people get there.
County officials said community libraries, senior centers and other public sites are open as cleaner-air cooling centers during their normal hours, and that Community Transit and Everett Transit will offer free rides to designated centers on July 21 and July 22. Anyone without home air conditioning is urged to head for the nearest cooling site and simply tell the bus driver they are going to a cooling center so the fare is waived.
Where to Find a Cool Spot
The county's Public Safety Hub maintains an updated map and list of active cooling locations and hours on the Snohomish County cooling page, which officials highlighted in a recent social post. Many of the daytime locations are public libraries and senior centers that have been upgraded to double as warming, cooling and cleaner-air centers.
According to a county news release, Snohomish County directed $1.5 million in ARPA funding to improve HVAC and air filtration at 22 sites, with the goal of keeping those facilities safe and open during both heat waves and wildfire smoke events.
How to Get There
The county's post on Snohomish County Government on Facebook notes that Community Transit and Everett Transit will provide free rides to designated cooling centers on July 21 and July 22. Riders should tell the driver they are headed to a cooling center to qualify for the free trip.
The county said the same policy applies to DART and paratransit trips, as well as Community Transit ZIP vehicles operating within the normal service area. Anyone who needs help planning a route can contact Community Transit customer care or call Everett Transit to confirm pickup options and hours.
Heat Safety Basics
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the Seattle region through July 22, warning that elevated temperatures increase the risk of heat-related illness. Public health guidance emphasizes drinking plenty of water, limiting strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day, and checking in on older adults and people with medical conditions, according to the Snohomish Health District.
For more detailed conditions and updates, see the National Weather Service forecast.
Residents without reliable air conditioning are encouraged to use the county's cooling map and take advantage of the temporary transit help while the advisory is in effect. For the latest activations and hours, check the Snohomish County cooling page or the county's social post, and contact your transit provider if you need paratransit service. A few hours in a cool, filtered public space can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related illness during short but intense heat spells.
