City of Milwaukee preps for dangerous heat Wednesday, urges caution
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Dangerous weather is closing in, and the city's urging an abundance of caution to those who may be stuck without air conditioning.
We visited the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, where the air conditioning's on, providing relief to more than 200 men, women and children who are staying the night.
"My hope and prayer is that nobody stays on the streets tonight, tomorrow," said Greg Neu, Milwaukee Rescue Mission's safe harbor director.
For 130 years, the Milwaukee Rescue Mission's given the homeless population a place to sleep and meals to eat. Their 24-hour operation's a bonus in this heat wave.
"We'll have water available, air conditioning, lobbies where the men can rest and get off the streets," said Neu.
It's all hands on deck as southeast Wisconsin prepares for the intense heat.
"So, it's expected to get up to 112 for the heat index by 3 p.m.," said Dr. Ben Weston, Milwaukee County chief health policy advisor.
Milwaukee County Parks are reopening splash pads at Berrien and Dineen parks, and the waders at Hales Corners and Mitchell parks. It's a good idea but staying in a cool office is even better.
"Tomorrow I'll be in my office with the fan blowing on me, just working my tail off," said Tim Schindler, preparing for the heat.
He'll be working, but Milwaukee Public Schools students have the day off.
The Boys & Girls Clubs have five locations open. Students who've never been to one can just show up and register at the door. It's free. Most Milwaukee area schools are still on summer break but fall sports have started. A number of those, like Kenosha Unified, will hold afternoon practices indoors to try to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
"First you just start feeling warm, you start feeling dry, dehydrated. After that, people actually start to stop sweating and start feeling chills. That's a bad sign, and the most extreme is heat stroke, and that's when people start to become confused," said Dr. Weston.
Dr. Weston's expecting EMS calls to rise, possibly outside the Republican debate, where people could stay for hours in the heat.
"We heard it's gonna be very, very, very hot -- one of the hottest days that exists in Milwaukee," said Nicola Wenz, visiting Milwaukee from Germany for the Republican debate.
"So how are you gonna stay cool?" we asked.
"Lots of Diet Coke and lots of trips to probably the nearest mall," she said.
Back at the Rescue Mission, as dinner comes to a close, Greg Neu says they do have space for more, and he hopes to see more.
The Milwaukee County Housing Division has an outreach team that goes to encampments visiting people and encouraging them to get to shelters like these, especially on days of difficult weather.