EASTON, Pa. — Easton is launching two programs to help residents beat the excessive heat in the coming days, the mayor’s office confirmed Tuesday.
According to a release from Mayor Sal Panto Jr., city administrators will open up City Hall, along with numerous fire hydrants, to help alleviate some of the excessive heat that Easton and the rest of the Lehigh Valley will see this week.
Fire hydrants will be opened on Thursday and Friday of this week to help residents without access to a pool. Open hydrants are located at Wilkes Barre and McKeen; Milton and Reynolds; Charles and Kleinhans; 11th and Butler; the 12th Street side of Pax; 9th and Jackson; 11th and Ferry; and Reeder and Parsons at March School.
To assist senior citizens the lobby of City Hall will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every weekday this week.
“People shouldn't go into any of the creeks or especially to the Delaware. The Delaware has a tremendous undertow that people don't know about; even good swimmers get caught."Mayor Sal Panto Jr.
Easton’s Heil Pool, located at 900 Packer Avenue, and the Eddyside Pool, located at Route 611 North near the intersection with Lafayette Street, are currently open from noon to 7 p.m. daily, weather permitting. Eddyside is open on even-numbered days, while Heil is open on odd days. Keep in mind the first hour of the day is reserved for Easton residents and pass holders.
Heil Pool features a 50-meter tank used for recreational and competitive swimming, along with a small spray park, two waterslides, a shallow area for new swimmers, and plenty of grass to relax on. The site also has a concession stand and a rentable pavilion.
Eddyside has a 25-meter tank for “swimmers of all abilities,” as the city’s website puts it, in addition to a children’s pool with a sloped walk-in entry. Eddyside also has a concession stand, and two pavilions for rental, along with a view of the Delaware River.
Mayor Panto told the public to be extremely cautious about swimming in general, strongly advising against swimming in any waterways that lack supervision.
“People shouldn't go into any of the creeks or especially to the Delaware. The Delaware has a tremendous undertow that people don't know about; even good swimmers get caught,” Panto said.
The mayor added if anyone happens to have surplus cooling devices – an extra fan or air conditioner – to please lend it to a neighbor in need and to check on people who are elderly or infirm to ensure their safety.
Fire Chief Henry Hennings is also encouraging all organizations who may be opening a cooling center to contact him at 610-250-6670.
According to the National Weather Service, Easton will be in a heat advisory through Wednesday night followed by an excessive heat watch through Saturday.
Daily high temperatures will hit the low to mid-90-degree mark, with chances for thunderstorms over Friday and Saturday.
For the excessive heat watch, the NWS advises everyone to “Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
"Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”
