The Hudson Valley dealt with record-setting temperatures on Wednesday, so News12 set out to find how people are beating the heat.

At 33 Ashburton Ave. in Yonkers, residents are keeping the blinds closed and blackout curtains on top. They sit shrouded in darkness all day to keep cool.

"I make it as dark in here as possible to keep the sun out, because this is all the front," said Charlotte Jones, who has had an apartment in the building for nine years.

She does this because some of the air conditioning units in her apartment stopped working two years ago - and the ones that do work aren't particularly strong.

James says the lack of air is exacerbating her son's COPD, asthma and high blood pressure.

News 12 reached out to the building's management, but did not hear back.

But as dire as their situation is, they're still in better shape than the people that rely on Yonker's cooling centers to stay cool. Because most of them are closed, and the ones that are open, like the one at the Charles Cola Community Center, are operating on limited hours due to the federal holiday.

Luckily, Westchester County decided to open their pools sooner than planned, but the line to get into the Sprain Ridge Pool was outrageous.

"I've never seen the line this long ever, we come here every other week," said Yonkers resident, Beatriz.

Thankfully, the pool can safely fit 703 people.

"Its really hot today, it feels good to be in the pool," one resident told News12's Emily Young as he was taking a dip in the pool.