Multnomah County and the City of Portland, along with community partners at Do Good Multnomah and Cultivate Initiatives, will open four overnight cooling shelters and one daytime cooling center beginning Tuesday, July 26, as forecasts show temperatures potentially surging to triple digits during the day Tuesday with little relief at night.
The City and County are continuing to monitor weather forecasts and are preparing to add additional cooling sites as needed to ensure no one is turned away.
Overnight cooling shelters will open Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the following locations:
- Charles Jordan Community Center: 9009 N. Foss Ave., Portland
- East Portland Community Center: 740 S.E. 106th Ave., Portland
- Portland Building: 1120 S.W. 5th Ave., Portland
- Sunrise Center: 18901 E. Burnside, Portland
A daytime cooling center will be open Tuesday, from 2 to 10 p.m., at the following location:
- Old Town: 435 N.W. Glisan St., Portland
Transportation
Beginning today, and for the extent of the emergency declaration, TriMet will not turn away anyone riding to a cool place who cannot afford to pay fare. TriMet asks riders to let their driver know they are headed to a cool place.
When riding transit during extreme heat, riders will want to plan extra time and check trimet.org/alerts before traveling, as there may be heat-related delays to service.
Anyone who needs transportation support to a cool space can also dial 2-1-1.
Other cool spaces
Libraries
Many libraries are open until 8 p.m. Monday, and three locations will offer extended hours, opening until 9 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday:
- Central: 801 S.W. 10th Ave.
- Gresham: 385 N.W. Miller Ave.
- Holgate: 7905 S.E. Holgate Blvd.
Find these and all locations and hours on the Multnomah County Library website
Misting stations
The City of Portland will host misting stations from noon to 8 p.m. beginning Tuesday, July 26, at six parks:
- East Portland Community Center: 740 S.E. 106th Ave.
- Glenhaven Park, near skate park: 7900 N.E. Siskiyou St.
- Harney Park, near restroom: S.E. 67th Ave. and S.E. Harney Street
- Knott Park, west restroom: N.E. 112th Ave. and N.E. Russell Street
- Lents Park, at Walker Stadium: 4808 S.E. 92nd Ave.
- Mt. Scott Community Center, near playgrounds: 5530 S.E. 72nd Ave.
Community spaces, including Lloyd Center
Find pools, community centers and other cool community spaces on the County’s interactive map.
Among those locations offering people a place to beat the heat are private businesses including the Lloyd Center.
The mall is extended hours beginning Tuesday at least through Thursday, opening from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“I’m grateful to the folks at Lloyd Center for offering their iconic building as a cooling center. They show a real commitment to the community by welcoming everyone and extending their hours during this heat,” said Jonna Papaefthimiou, chief resilience officer for the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management. “And really, what could be better than eating a pretzel, sipping an Orange Julius and watching ice skaters on a hot day?”
Homelessness outreach supplies
The Joint Office of Homeless Services’ supply center in downtown Portland continues to distribute water and other cooling supplies through community partners, including mutual aid groups and contracted outreach teams. That work began last week, July 19, and will continue throughout the duration of the heat event. So far, thousands of bottles of water and hundreds of cooling kits and gallon jugs of water have been distributed.
Water safety
As temperatures rise, rivers and lakes may offer relief from the heat.
For those playing in or around the water, please wear a life jacket. Life jackets may be borrowed for free at many destinations and boat ramps across Multnomah County, including at the M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp near Broughton Beach, Dabney State Park, Blue Lake Park, Oxbow Park, and Glenn Otto Park.
Lifeguards are present at Glenn Otto Park. Not only can lifeguards show you the safest place to swim, they can help visitors select a life jacket that fits best.
Bookmark these links
2-1-1 info: Call to find cool spaces nearest you, learn cooling centers open, and for transportation support.
map
National Weather Service: Check the forecast and plan outdoor activities for the coolest times of day.
Cool places in Multnomah County: Find a library, community center, pool or splash pad near you.
Cool places in Clackamas County: Find cool spaces in Clackamas County.
Cool places in Washington County: Find cool spaces in Washington County.