It’s just over 10 days now 23 days into the official season, and summer is here and with quite a vengeance, bringing with it the worst heat wave in 15 years. This week, temperatures are expected to peak at 98 degrees on Wednesday with a RealFeel temp of 102. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for July 15 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
In response, the Warren County Office of Emergency Management, in partnership with emergency management coordinators in each municipality, has helped identify safe, air-conditioned locations that are open to the public during periods of extreme heat.
Residents should contact their local Municipal OEM Coordinator for up-to-date hours and access information, as availability may vary.
Cooling Centers in Our Region
BELVIDERE
- Good Will Fire Company / Belvidere Manor – 689 Water Street, Belvidere
📞 OEM Contact: Susan Reeder – (908) 343-7129 | reeders140@gmail.com
BLAIRSTOWN
- Masonic Lodge – 11 Stillwater Road
- Blairstown Municipal Building – 106 Route 94
- North Warren Regional High School – 10 Noe Road
📞 OEM Contact: Nicholas Mohr – (908) 414-4621 | oem@readyblairstown.org
FRELINGHUYSEN
- Frelinghuysen Municipal Building – 210 Main Street, Johnsonburg
📞 OEM Contact: Douglas Meyer – (862) 881-2671 | meyerftc@gmail.com
HARDWICK
- No formal cooling center identified at this time
📞 OEM Contact: Nichole Meuse – (201) 774-0712 | nichole.meuse@gmail.com
HOPE
- Hope Community Center – 4 Walnut Street
- Thomas Planer Building (Grange) – 428 Hope-Great Meadows Road
📞 OEM Contact: Timothy McDonough – (908) 581-6135 | timothymcdonough@embarqmail.com
KNOWLTON
- North Warren Regional High School – 10 Noe Road
- Knowlton Fire/EMS and Knowlton Municipal Building may be used for smaller needs
📞 OEM Contact: Vince Gaeta – (201) 213-0028 | vgaeta@knowlton-nj.com
WHITE
- Good Will Fire Company / Belvidere Manor – 689 Water Street, Belvidere
📞 OEM Contact: Jeffrey Herb – (908) 347-9081 | clerk@whitetwp-nj.com
Warren County Library Branches (County-Wide Access)
- Northeast Branch – 40 US Hwy 46 W, Independence
- Headquarters/Gardner Branch – 2 Shotwell Drive, Belvidere
- Southwest Branch – 404 Route 519, Phillipsburg
- Catherine Dickson Hofman Branch – 4 Lambert Road, Blairstown
Library Cooling Center Hours:
🕘 Mon–Thurs: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
🕘 Friday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
🕘 Saturday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
📞 County OEM Contacts:
- Alex Lazorisak – (908) 652-0411 | oemcoordinator@co.warren.nj.us
- Dennis Riley – (908) 652-0410 | driley@co.warren.nj.us
- Diane Tabert – (908) 619-5933 | dtabert@co.warren.nj.us
For a full list of cooling centers across New Jersey, visit the Warren County Department of Public Safety website.
Seventy days of summer remain. Stay cool and stay safe!
