Hot temperatures grip Cape Fear as residents seek relief and doctors warn of heat risks
LELAND, N.C. (WWAY) — Temperatures climbed into the 90s across the Cape Fear region Friday, with more hot weather expected through the weekend, prompting residents to find ways to stay cool while health experts urge caution.
Families gathered at the splash pad at Founders Park in Leland to beat the heat as summer-like conditions settled across southeastern North Carolina.
“Oh my gosh, it’s ridiculous. I feel like we left the house at 9:30 a.m. and it was already 90, and I was like, ‘Oh gosh,'” said Amanda Summers, a Leland resident.
Summers and fellow resident Ashley Grace said the splash pad offered a safe way for their families to enjoy the outdoors despite the high temperatures.
“I think we’re gonna try to embrace it, in a safe way, splash pad, lots of popsicles,” Grace said.
Health officials say taking precautions is important as temperatures remain elevated.
“The official recommendation for healthy sunlight exposure is 15 minutes, so a very short time,” said Andy Thurby, a physician with Novant Health.
Thurby said staying hydrated and limiting time in direct sunlight can help prevent heat-related illnesses, which can develop quickly.
“We can get some headaches, we can get some fatigue. We really start to worry about heat exhaustion when we start to see things like excessive redness, sweating can stop, even things like confusion, muscle cramps,” Thurby said.
He also recommends spending time in air-conditioned environments whenever possible.
The heat also created challenges for some residents Thursday when a power outage left about 1,700 customers in the Kings Grant area without electricity for several hours.
Angela Milone said her family tried to keep cool by minimizing heat inside their home.
“But we found if we just kind of sat still, we shut all the windows, all the blinds in the house and tried to conserve as much coolness as we could without the sun beating in,” Milone said.
According to Duke Energy spokesperson Jeff Brooks, the outage was caused by equipment failure on underground power lines in the area.
“That was due to an equipment failure on some underground lines that are in that area. We’ve done a lot of grid improvements in Kings Grant,” Brooks said.
Power was restored to all affected customers by about 8 p.m. Thursday, Brooks said.
To reduce energy use and keep cooling costs down during periods of extreme heat, Brooks recommends adjusting thermostats at night, using ceiling fans to improve air circulation, checking air filters and closing blinds on windows that receive direct sunlight.
“I also think about just Mother Nature. Close the blinds on the sunny side of the house. That heat coming in through your window is like a greenhouse,” Brooks said.
Thurby said people spending time outdoors should aim to drink at least 64 ounces of water daily, replenish electrolytes and wear loose-fitting clothing to reduce the risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion.
