Multnomah County’s Office of Communications, in partnership with area agencies, coordinates media requests during hot weather events. Press inquiries should be sent to pressoffice@multco.us.
During an activation we encourage the media to visit cooling centers, talk to staff and volunteers and help get the word out about the risk of hot temperatures and ways people can keep cool. We ask members of the media to contact our office before visiting a cooling center to make sure someone is there to welcome them.
Photographers and videographers may take pictures and video of cooling center space, of staff and volunteers. But the media must obtain express permission and written consent from guests before quoting them or using their images. Our team and cooling center staff can facilitate getting those releases.
Images for download
Download these open-source high-resolution images of our regional heat response
- Cooling Center at Gateway Church (Aug. 12, 2025)
- Cooling Center at Portland Covenant Church (Aug. 11, 2025)
- Heat press conference (Aug. 22, 2025)
- Heat press conference (Sept. 05, 2024)
- Cook Plaza Severe Weather Emergency Shelter set-up (July 05, 2024)
- Emergency Management Logistics Division staff deliver necessary heat emergency items to Portland Covenant Church (July 3, 2024)
- For heat response images that are older than summer of 2024, please check Multnomah County's Flickr page.
Release forms, for official use
Forms are available in English, Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Somali, and Arabic.
Contact the Communications Office if a translator or interpreter is needed to assist other language speakers.