GEORGETOWN, Del. - Summer hasn’t officially started, but Sussex County is already experiencing intense heat, with even higher temperatures expected soon.
CoastTV News meteorologists expect the heat index to reach triple digits on Thursday, prompting many coastal residents to plan ahead and find ways to stay cool, safe, and hydrated.
At the CHEER Center in Georgetown, Lynne Francis said she has a plan to stay cool.
"Mainly coming here to keep out of the heat, because when I'm here, I'm freezing," Francis said. "So, I get to stay out of the heat. I come here, but at home, I stay in the air conditioning, and I stay with my little doggy."
Others like Jack Gibbs said jobs like mowing the lawn still need to get done, just with more breaks in between.
"Drink water, plenty of water, and I got my little ice cooler," Gibbs said. "I might work a couple of hours, go home, get in my recliner, and then when it cools back down, I'll come back out."
Donald Kellicutt, another local senior, said he visits the CHEER Center in the mornings to eat and play UNO with friends before heading home to enjoy time outdoors.
"I have several acres, and I have a little puppy dog that we run around outside. I raise some plants and do things outside," Kellicutt said.
The UV index in the area is currently at 9, a level just shy of extreme, and is expected to remain high for the next five days.