LEXINGTON, Ky. — With above-average temperatures expected this week, the Lexington Division of Emergency Management issued a Phase I Heat alert, effective through the evening of Saturday, June 22. 

The alert is activated when the Heat Index is expected to reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Officials said agencies that work with vulnerable populations should ensure emergency plans are in place. 

Under the alert, those experiencing homelessness can ride LexTran to cooling stations for free. Outreach teams such as HopeMobile, Lexington Street Outreach and the Compassionate Caravan will distribute water and help people get to shady areas or cooling stations.

Community centers including Dunbar, Kenwick, Castlewood and Tates Creek are open into the early evening and also available as cooling stations, officials added.

The Division of Emergency Management said residents should take precautions while outdoors, especially during the late morning and afternoon hours. Young children, the elderly and those with medical conditions are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and should seek shelter when possible. 

More resources can be found at BeReadyLexington.com/extreme-heat, Lexington Emergency Management's Facebook page and its Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts: @LexKYEM.