Folks stay inside to beat the heat

SOUTHINGTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- Cooling centers are gearing up to help folks who are looking to come in from the heat.

"I have trouble breathing when it gets too hot," said Terry Fitzgerald, a dance instructor.

But that's outside, where by 8 a.m. Wednesday morning it was 80 degrees and climbing. It was a relatively cool 72 degrees for delightful dancers at Calendar House Senior Center in Southington, one of several ad hoc cooling centers for those needing refuge from the heat.

Calendar House has been providing locals an oasis for years, and not just during hot weather.

"During that big storm in October and November, we probably housed about 60 people per night here for the week and fed over 2,000 people," said Robert Verderame, the Senior Center's Director.

"Water, food. When the storm was in October they fed them three meals a day," Fitzgerald said.

Verderame says he expects mostly folks in for routine activities, but just wait.

"Usually during the first day of a heat wave it's a regular day," he said. "When tomorrow afternoon comes around, yeah, we'll feel a little effect. Friday we'll be going on, especially with our activities, and people will stay."

Click here for a full list of cooling centers open across the state.