EARLY ARRIVAL OF HEAT BRINGS RELIEF INQUIRIES

True summer hasn't hit yet, but for many people the heat inside and outside their homes is becoming too much to bear.

Warm air from the Gulf of Mexico and high humidity that moved into the area over the weekend have caused people to "feel the heat a little more," said Bob Watson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Ky. Temperatures have been ranging eight to 10 degrees higher than the upper 70s to low 80s that the region generally averages, and relief isn't expected before the weekend.

"Right now we are in a hotter-than-normal pattern," Watson said. "We've got a front that's trying to drop down from the Great Lakes, central Indiana, central Illinois, and northeast and northwest Missouri. If it does, we could come closer to normal with highs in the lower 80s by the weekend. "

In the meantime, social-service agencies have handled a larger-than-normal volume of calls from Cape Girardeans requesting relief from the heat. Debra Hamilton of East Missouri Action Agency said her agency had received four heat-related calls by midafternoon Wednesday alone, while Capt. Robert Gauthier of the Salvation Army said his agency has averaged two or more calls a day for the past three weeks.

Gauthier said most callers have asked about the Salvation Army's annual program that lends fans to needy families. The program, which doesn't begin until the first week in June, provides fans to families who have children younger than 5 or adults older than 55 in the household, or who have a documented medical condition.

"People are calling much earlier because it seems to be warmer earlier this year," said Gauthier. "I'd imagine we gave out about 250 fans last summer, and we'll probably give out about that many again this year."

Hamilton said the EMAA has a limited number of air-conditioning units available to lend through its Summer Cooling Assistance Program from June to September.

Priority is given to people with documented, life-threatening medical conditions, and energy assistance is also available to help the recipients cover the increased cost of utilities. The agency also offers financial assistance for others who have received utility shut-off notices or who have air conditioners that need repaired.

The Salvation Army and FISH Volunteers of Cape Girardeau also sponsor energy assistance programs, but funding is limited monthly and will not be available again through either organization until June. Representatives said people seeking help are frustrated by the variance between hot temperatures and June start dates of the summer assistance programs, but unless temperatures climb to threatening levels there won't be any changes.

"There are no plans to begin the Summer Cooling Assistance Program prior to June 1, but the program could begin earlier if a heat alert were issued in the area because of extreme temperatures," Hamilton said. "Other than that, we won't be able to begin the programs until the start date in June."