Houston Cooling Centers Offer Respite From Heat

Houston cooling centers offer respite from heat Houston Chronicle Copyright 2012 Houston Chronicle. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 10:32 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, 2012 Triple-digit highs this week are forcing many Houston-area residents without air conditioning to seek respite from the scorching heat. The city of Houston, Galveston County's Office of Emergency Management and Fort Bend Senior Meals on Wheels have opened cooling centers to help people, especially seniors and children, beat the heat. "People can come to the centers any time," said Porfirio Villarreal, spokesman for the city's Department of Health and Human Services. High-risk groups such as adults age 55 and older, children under age 5 and people with chronic illnesses are advised to stay inside air-conditioned buildings between 1 p.m.