Community partners across Kansas City have developed a new hot weather plan for the summer focused on ensuring the safety of vulnerable people in the community.
The Cool KC Extreme Heat Plan, which runs from June to September, aims to keep people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable populations safe in the blistering Missouri temperatures. Kansas City was under a heat advisory on Monday, with high temperatures reaching the mid-90s.
The initiative relies on a coordinated donation system to distribute water, sunscreen and bug spray to those at risk from the heat. It also aims to establish public water access across Kansas City. A variety of cooling centers have already opened throughout the city, where people can go to get out of the heat. The plan was coordinated by the city’s Extreme Weather Planning Committee, according to its website.
Those involved with the initiative met Friday at Healing House KC to kick off the plan. Drop-in shelters, housing programs, transitional living shelters, faith organizations and government employees were all represented at the event…