KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The heat wave that's settled over the South is now blamed for at least a half-dozen deaths in Texas. Some parts of the state are in for their seventh straight day of temperatures well over 100 degrees. Lisa Baldwin (ph) of affiliate KPRC tells us how Houston officials are helping folks cool off.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you for calling Public Works and Engineering. All calls are recorded...</s>LISA BALDWIN, KPRC REPORTER (voice-over): Houston's Citizens' Response Center says it now has phone lines open 24 hours a day, seven days a week fielding calls from people needing information about the city's cooling centers.</s>KATHY BARTON, HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT: It's time for everybody to take extra precautions because we've reached that point where even healthy people can have problems with the heat.</s>BALDWIN: Air-conditioned city facilities like libraries, community centers and swimming pools continue to invite citizens to come inside to cool off.</s>LUTITIA TAYLOR, HOUSTON RESIDENT: It's nice and cool in here. So everyone comes here to find the cool.</s>BALDWIN: Under Monday's heat emergency plan, city leaders say cooling centers will be open seven days a week if it's necessary, and that transportation to a city cooling center will be provided to anyone who needs it.</s>ANNA CURTIS, CENTER ADMINISTRATOR: If the temperature stays, you know, as it is now, then we make arrangements to have someone here on the weekends to have the center open.</s>BALDWIN: Houston's Health Department says if you are in a high- risk category -- either elderly or 5-years-old or younger -- two hours a day of air conditioning could make the difference between life and death.
Texas Heat Wave: Houston Officials Open Cooling Centers for Vulnerable