Temperatures are already starting to rise, with highs forecast up to 98 degrees today. But the worst is yet to come. The National Weather Service expects temperatures will hit 103 to 104 degrees Thursday and Friday, before cooling off over the weekend.
And people in the Portland metro area won’t get much relief, with little cooling overnight.
That’s why Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Vines urges people to start preparing today for ways to cool off tomorrow and Friday; and to make sure friends, family and neighbors also have what they need to stay safe and beat the heat.
“Our bodies must have breaks from high heat. It’s especially important for people who are older or have health problems, to make a plan today. If you don’t have air conditioning I urge you to visit a cooling center or spend time at a library. Call 211 to arrange transportation.”
Multnomah County and the City of Portland today opened cooling centers for people who need a break from the heat, either for a few hours or a few days. For people who plan to stay home, make sure you have what you need to stay cool and prepare a little extra in case you come across someone who needs help.
Check Help for When it’s Hot for the latest on cooling centers and other places to get relief.
Closures due to Heat
Due to the heat, the following Multnomah County Public Health will have the following closures:
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Wednesday, Aug. 11: Needle Exchange Services at Yeon Building 3-5 pm
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Thursday, Aug. 12: REACH COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Rockwood
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Friday, Aug. COVID-19 vaccine clinic at PCC Cascade 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Make a plan now
Get ready now for high temperatures coming tomorrow and Friday. People should be ready to spend time somewhere cool — or at least tolerable. If you don’t have a cool space, make a plan for where you might go. If you have neighbors, family or friends who live alone without air conditioning, check in with them to make sure they have a place to go to get cool.
If you have a cool space and you can make it available to others, consider doing so. You might want to find out in advance which relatives and neighbors need some help or someone to check in on them.
Shaded and wooded parks may also offer some relief. Check out this map of cool spaces for misting stations, cooling center and extended library hours.
Get ready at home
Open windows and doors when temperatures are coolest, overnight and into the early morning hours. Those are likely to be between 3 and 7 a.m. each day.
Then close the house and curtains to keep the space cooler as temperatures rise. Then prepare some DIY cooling packs:
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Start making ice today so you’ll have plenty during hot weather.
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Fill a sock with rice and toss it in the freezer to make a cool pack.
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Freeze a wet washcloth or towel.
Avoid cooking during hot days, and instead opt for foods that will help cool you down. Make a grocery run for:
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Frozen fruit for smoothies
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Cucumbers, basil and mint for flavored water
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Cold fixings for sandwiches
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Fresh veggies and fruits for salads and snacks.
Plan time outside
Temperatures will hit 90 as early as 10 a.m. Thursday and Friday, so get an early start on any outdoor chores or put them off until the weekend, when temperatures are projected to cool.
Employers should do everything possible to shift hours to cooler hours of the day. If employers have indoor duties or lighter duties, it’s a good time to assign those.
If workers have to be out, make sure you have plenty of water and set up a cool shaded space for workers to take frequent breaks. Find out more about Oregon OSHA’s hot weather rules for employers.
Make sure you know ahead of time worrying signs of heat illness, and post those for workers.
Take care of others
Check in now with family, friends and neighbors who might be especially sensitive to the heat, including seniors, people taking prescription medications and people with heart disease, high blood pressure and other chronic health conditions.
People who work outside or who are experiencing homelessness can be at particular risk of heat illness.
Here are three ways to prepare to lend a hand:
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Learn the signs of heat illness so you can help someone else when it matters.
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Load up your car with some extra bottles of water in case you see someone who needs a drink
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Load the website Help for When it’s Hot on your phone so you can direct someone to a cooling center: multco.us/help-when-its-hot
Help neighbors without shelter
The Joint Office of Homeless Services’ downtown outreach supply center at 501 S.W. Washington St. will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day through Saturday, Aug. 14, for pickups of water and cooling supplies to distribute. Community members are encouraged to help support that work as they’re able.
People interested in picking up water and cooling supplies will need to make an appointment first, but appointments to pick up those supplies are open for anyone interested in helping.
Anyone interested in picking up supplies to distribute or dropping off supplies can contact Carol Bethard or Richard Gilliam at the Joint Office to make appointments.
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On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, email johssupplies@multco.us or call 503-310-7210 or 503-314-9757.
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On Saturday morning, email johssupplies@multco.us or call 503-310-7210.
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On Saturday afternoon, email johssupplies@multco.us or call 503-314-9757.
Those who would like to help support their unsheltered neighbors, but who might not be able to be out in the heat distributing supplies, can help instead by dropping off donations of 16.9-ounce bottles of water at the Joint Office supply center.
Take care of animals
Plan to keep pets inside in a cool or air conditioned space during the hottest hours of day.
If animals stay outside, check today that they have shade and access to unlimited water to play in and to drink. Consider setting up a sprinkler or filling a kiddie pool for your animals. Do not let dogs swim in or drink from the Willamette River due to current toxic algae bloom. Blooms develop in rivers when the water becomes slack and warm. Find more information here.
And remember, pets are welcome at cooling centers (but not libraries) so if your furry friends don’t have a cool space to be during the heat of afternoon, plan to spend a few hours at one of these cool places.
