Richmond county has seen a high of over 90 degrees almost every day for the past two week. The level of heat so early in the year has started to affect some people, organizations are stepping in to help keep residents cool.

Grants are available to weatherize 131 homes in Richmond County and 69 homes in Anson County. The homes will be completely sealed from top to bottom and outside to maintain the cool air on the inside in the summer and warm air inside during the winter.

“This will also decrease the residents utility bill,” said North Carolina Weatherization Director Doug Dixon. “We should have all these homes taken care of by January.”

To apply for this program you must fill out the application, give the past 24 months of your electricity bill, all income in the home, a copy of your Social Security card to verify identity, proof that the home is in the name of the person applying and sign a release form allowing the Weatherization department to speak with the applicants’ utility company.

The Hamlet Senior Center will also be giving out fans as of July 1 to those in need. The fans are given to the elderly of Richmond County on a first-come basis to anyone above 60 who can prove their age and provide an electric bill.

“We offer early in the morning activities because this is a haven from the heat for them,” said Susan Sellers of the Hamlet Senior Center.

Area senior centers, such as Hamlet, are now allowing the seniors to have more of their daily activities start early to take advantage of the cool air.

The extreme heat is also affecting other areas in the county. All of the area pools report that they have seen a decrease in the use of the facilities due the water not being as cool as it could.

“Yes, we have seen a decrease in the use of the pool, but no one has given us a reason, I assume its due to the heat,” said East Rockingham Parks Supervisor Joey Keane. “Heat does create a problem, the water is too warm.”

Kyle Davis the pool director at Rockingham Parks and Recreation agrees that the decrease is due to the heat.

For more information on the weatherization program you can contact Belinda McNeil at (910) 997-8440. And to register to receive a fan from the Hamlet Senior Center contact Sellers at (910) 582-7985.

Hollie Nivens can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or by e-mailing at hnivens@yourdailyjournal.com.