How do you beat the heat? Ice cream, splashing and a trip to the library

Kasey Waugaman of Greensburg knows what can happen when a sustained heat wave hits the region.

Waugaman was working with an NBC television crew at the 1994 U.S. Open in Oakmont when similarly high temperatures caused spectators and staff to succumb to the heat.

“Luckily we were able to get around on golf carts,” she said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Waugaman, her daughter and granddaughters were making a well-timed stop at Tastyland in Hempfield for some ice cream.

Across the region, lingering power outages from Monday night’s storms combined with the continuing heat wave to send the region’s residents in search of a cool respite.

Westmoreland County officials partnered with the United Way to make sure people know where they can go to escape temperatures expected to stay in the 90s through the end of the week.

County Public Safety Director Bud Mertz said the county joined with United Way officials to serve as a resource for those seeking to escape the heat. Residents can dial 211 to find the nearest cooling center.

“They’re a tremendous partner for us, and it makes things so there aren’t 10 different lists out there,” Mertz said. “We’ve communicated with all our local fire, police and others and let everyone know to notify 211 if they’re going to open their doors to help folks get out of the heat.”

Greensburg nonprofit Westmoreland Community Action is also operating four cooling centers at its offices across Westmoreland County:

• 316 Donohoe Road in Hempfield

• 108 S. Chestnut St. (second floor) in Derry Borough

• Monessen City Hall, 557 Donner Ave.

• 212 N. Chestnut St. in Scottdale

This week the Hempfield center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. The Derry and Scottdale locations will be open during the same hours on Friday.

Westmoreland Community Action offices are closed Wednesday in observance of the federal Juneteenth holiday.

Ashley McClain of Penn Township brought her daughters to the Murrysville Community Park splash pad to cool off.

“We got here, and there were about 30 families here,” McClain said. “Then two minutes later it starting storming, and everyone scattered.”

McClain and her kids opted to wait out the storm, and by 4 p.m. they were back on the splash pad as other cars started arriving in the parking lot.

Mimi Rodkey, 64, of Jeannette, had a similar plan when she took her grandchildren to the Veterans Pool at Lynch Field in Greensburg.

Instead of swimming, they waited out the storm in the park.

“I’m fine with the heat,” Rodkey said. “Summer should be hot.”

Libraries are cool, too

Public libraries also largely welcomed residents for heat relief on Tuesday.

Delmont Public Library officials posted on social media that folks are welcome to stop by and spend some time cooling down this week. Interim director Jordan Burt said it was a decision they made on their own.

“I think it’s less calling ourselves a ‘cooling center’ and more to let people know we’re here for their needs,” Burt said. “We’re an extension of the community. We’re funded by them and our services are here for them.”

Burt said power outages in the area brought a sizable number of residents to the library on Tuesday morning.

And while the Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library isn’t specifically advertising itself as a cooling center, director Jamie Falo said the public is certainly welcome to use it as such.

“The library is a central hub and a safe haven for people to come,” Falo said. “We’re open and everyone’s welcome to come in anytime to get out of the weather.”

Charles Drach, 67, of Jeannette, was among those at the library.

On his day off, Drach visited the library to look for new jobs on the computer and pick up a book. While Drach keeps cool with an air conditioning unit at home, he said the space the public library offers the public is great for days like this.

“I’m surprised there’s not more people,” Drach said. “You don’t have to buy anything, and that’s nice. More people should take advantage of it.”

In addition to serving as a cooling center, Delmont library officials also have access to the local Salvation Army canteen.

“They make that truck available to stop by the library if we do end up with a lot of people coming here to cool down,” she said. “We also just started our free summer lunch program with the Westmoreland Food Bank (on Monday), so kids could come by, get a free lunch and just relax.”

Nicole Henline, director at the Monroeville Public Library, said their staff also made sure to post on social media and let patrons know they can stop by to cool down this week.

“You can come tor a program, you can come sit and read, we have puzzles, coloring pages for adults and kids; we just have a lot of things people can come and do,” Henline said. “It’s a great place to spend time, and often when people are stuck at home, they can start to feel isolated. The library is a great place to cool off and be around other people.”