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Montgomery County delays July 3–4 events, opens cooling centers and urges extreme-heat precautions
Summary
County Executive Mark Elrich and health officials warned residents of extreme heat ahead of Independence Day events, listed six cooling centers (including the Jane E. Lawton center in Chevy Chase) and urged precautions such as not leaving children or pets in cars and checking on vulnerable neighbors.
Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich urged residents to take heat risks seriously ahead of Independence Day events and announced operational changes and resources the county will provide during the holiday.
Elrich said the county’s two main celebrations have shifted to later start times to avoid the hottest hours: a July 3 "Shine Together" event at Einstein High School and a July 4 Up County celebration in Germantown will both begin at about 7:30 p.m., with fireworks expected around 9:30 p.m. Residents were advised to check the Montgomery County Recreation website and Alert Montgomery for any last-minute weather-related changes.
To help residents cope with high temperatures, the county named six cooling sites that will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. while county offices are closed for the holiday: East County Community Recreation Center (3310 Gateshead Manor Way, Silver Spring); Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center (4301 Willow Lane, Chevy Chase); Rockville Memorial Library (21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville); Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center (1319 Apple Avenue, Silver Spring); Upper County Community Recreation Center (8201 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg); and the Wheaton Community Recreation Center (11701 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton). The county noted that regular on-site services such as gymnasiums and game rooms will be limited.
Health and county officials emphasized basic precautions: stay hydrated, wear light clothing, limit outdoor exertion during peak heat and check on neighbors or family members who may be vulnerable. "Never, and never means never, leave kids or pets alone in the car," Elrich said.
County health staff added that help is available for those who are unhoused or in crisis and encouraged residents to consult Montgomery County’s official website and Alert Montgomery for verified hotline numbers and direct assistance. Officials also reminded the public that Department of Defense flyovers will occur after 1 p.m. on the Fourth and may cause intermittent aircraft noise across the Washington region.
What happens next: County staff said cooling centers will operate over the holiday and transportation partners will provide ride-on, air-conditioned buses at event sites to help attendees avoid heat exposure. Residents should monitor county announcements for any operational changes.
