City Prepares for Expected Heatwave

will be open to residents from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday as an emergency cooling center during this week's record-breaking heat. 

The city's emergency planning committee met Wednesday afternoon to make preparations for the heatwave. According to the National Weather Service, temperatures could reach 97 degrees Thursday and 95 degrees Friday. 

The NWS has issued an excessive heat watch for the area Thursday and Friday, warning that temperatures could hit over 100 degrees. In Woburn, it could feel like 105 degrees Thursday with a large amount of haze. 

Officials expect the heat to be the worst between noon and 8 p.m. both days. The high school will be open and police officers will be stationed in the area, said Police Lt. Robert Ferullo Wednesday. 

The will also remain open extra hours, said Joanne Collins, the center's director. 

"We’ll stay open until 8 or 8:30 p.m. tonight and we can stay open tomorrow and the night after," said Collins Wednesday. 

Although the Senior Center will be open, the city's main emergency cooling center will be the high school. 

The city is also prepared to assist residents who remain at the senior housing complexes. According to Bob McNabb of the Housing Authority, an emergency plan is in place. 

"The primary people that are most vulnerable are those on oxygen," said McNabb. "We have an inventory and we check in on those individuals." 

The fire department is also ready to assist those residents who need help during the heatwave. 

"We can provide oxygen if they run low," said Fire Chief Paul Tortolano.

If residents experience an emergency during the heat wave, they should call 911.