Help for When It's Hot

Information about cool spaces, cooling centers and other resources during the hot weather.

People and dogs splash in a fountain at Peninsula Park in June, 2022.

Updated Tuesday, Aug. 12, 10 a.m.

Multnomah County and its partners will reopen three daytime cooling centers from noon to 9 p.m. today, Tuesday, Aug. 12, to provide relief from the dangerous heat.

The cooling centers open today from noon to 9 p.m.:

No one will be turned away, and pets are welcome. Food and water are provided at the cooling centers.

All Multnomah County library branches are open until 8 p.m. Always confirm hours and locations before you go. Remember that some libraries are closed for construction.

Flyers with Monday's cooling center locations are available in English and Spanish.

Cooling centers and libraries are just two of many kinds of places people can access to find relief from the heat. Check this interactive Multnomah County map showing more than 80 cool spaces, including community centers, malls, interactive fountains, swimming pools and splashpads in addition to cooling centers and libraries, for places you can go to cool off. 

From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, TriMet won’t turn away anyone who is going to a cooling space and who cannot otherwise pay their fare. Please tell your bus operator that you’re heading to or from a cooling center.

County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson declared a state of emergency that took effect Monday, Aug. 11, at noon. It has been extended until 10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug 12.

Certain groups most at risk of heat-related illness

People facing the highest risk of heat-related illness include:

  • Men over 55 who live alone.
  • People without access to air conditioning.
  • Pregnant people.
  • People on certain medications.
  • People who work in hot indoor or outdoor environments.
  • People engaging in strenuous or new outdoor recreational activities (especially children on turf fields).
  • People who have consumed alcohol.

Visit this page to learn about the symptoms of heat illness and how to respond. This information and printable materials are available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Korean, Chinese, Arabic and Somali.

The County encourages people to check in on neighbors, friends and relatives; show up with water and a snack! Take action and make a plan together for getting them to cooler places, even for a few hours. Homebound people with no air conditioning are at greater risk as indoor spaces get steadily hotter.

>> Learn about the symptoms of heat illness and how to care of yourself and others during hot weather. <<

Heat and water safety

If you plan to seek relief from the heat in waterways, please swim and splash safely. Be aware of swift currents, cold water temperatures, hidden hazards and uneven bottom surfaces. 

Everyone should take care when working or playing outside in the midday heat. Remember to drink more water and take cooling breaks. Even a few minutes of cooling can help prevent heat illness.

How to help a person showing distress

If you see a person starting to show some distress from the heat, do everything you can to safely encourage them, or assist them, to get to a cool (ideally air-conditioned) space. If a person is unresponsive or not making sense, stay calm and call 911 to request help.

Worker safety

People who work outside are encouraged to drink plenty of water and take breaks in the shade. Under Oregon Occupational Safety and Health (Oregon OSHA) rules, outdoor workers are entitled to shade, breaks and water. Employers are responsible to protect their workers. Oregon OSHA has more information for workers about their rights under state law.

Know your rights: State restrictions on electricity disconnections 

Portland General Electric (PGE) and Pacific Power cannot disconnect your electricity service on days with a severe heat alert or for 48 hours after a severe heat alert was in effect. Severe heat alerts include Heat Advisories, Extreme Heat Watches and Extreme Heat Warnings. The National Weather Services has put an Extreme Heat Warning in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12.

Learn more about your protections and how to contact your provider if your power is disconnected.

Get your home summer-ready

Take steps to prepare yourself and get your home summer-ready. Keep an emergency supply of water storage — whatever your space allows. Consider buying sun-blocking curtains, and stock up on sunscreen, cooling towels and other summer essentials. Consider using a box fan if it’s under 95 degrees and add a filter if the air quality is poor.

County supporting the community during the heat

The County has been working proactively to prepare the community for the heat. The Department of County Human Services has been reaching out to its community partners and property managers to share cooling resources along with information about the potentially hazardous heat.

The Homeless Services Department in partnership with the County’s Office of Emergency Management activated its enhanced outreach program last week and began distributing cooling supplies to outreach teams, mutual aid groups and volunteers who will provide them to people experiencing homelessness across the county. So far, the County has provided outreach teams with 25,464 bottles of water, 1,080 reusable bottles, 2,160 cooling towels, 2,700 electrolyte packets, and 2,700 sunscreen packets.

Support our community

Interested in supporting our community during future heat events? Prepare now to help out as an Emergency Shelter Volunteer if Multnomah County opens cooling centers or shelters (Disaster Resource Centers) and requests help from community volunteers. Attend an upcoming info session or training — including today’s "Trauma-informed Disaster Resource Centers" training, and several in September.

Consider hosting a misting station. Or work with the Office of Emergency Management to create a Disaster Resource Center.

Bookmark these links

  • National Weather Service: Check the forecast and plan outdoor activities for the coolest times of day.
  • 211info: Dial 211 to find a cool space nearest you and to learn about transportation options.
  • Public Alerts: Sign up to receive health and safety alerts in your area.
  • Heat Risk Map: The National Weather Service forecasts heat risk for vulnerable populations.
  • Clackamas County: Find cool spaces in Clackamas County.
  • Washington County: Find cool spaces in Washington County.