NEWS RELEASE: Emergency cooling centers not opening Monday, but community urged to stay aware of continued heat risk

On this page

  1. County efforts help hundreds stay cool on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
  2. Sunday’s 911 calls down from Saturday; emergency department visits remain slightly elevated
  3. Air quality poor for sensitive groups; inside in a cool place is safest
  4. Stay safe if seeking relief in waterways
  5. Heat doesn’t affect everyone equally: Who’s most at risk?
  6. Stay informed and check on your community

With cooling temperatures that no longer meet emergency thresholds, Multnomah County and its partners will not reopen cooling centers today. Multnomah County Library locations will maintain normal Monday hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While temperatures are coming down, health officials say it will take time for homes too cool and heat risk has not gone away. Officials urge the community to continue taking steps to stay safe in the heat. Consider visiting one of the dozens of cool spaces listed on this Multnomah County interactive map, including pools, libraries and splashpads. The map also shows misting stations opened for the event by the Portland Water Bureau, which will remain open today.

Community members are advised to take care when working or playing outside in the midday heat. People attending outdoor events under the sun, as well as those without indoor cooling, are especially encouraged to continue being mindful of heat safety.

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 take longer to cool off than outdoor ones.

People without air conditioning should also open doors and windows after the sun goes down and use fans to move hot air out and cooler air in, then close everything up again in the morning before the day heats up.

The Homeless Services Department is continuing to coordinate enhanced street outreach services today. Outreach teams, mutual aid groups and volunteers are bringing supplies and information to people living outside across the county. So far, the County has provided outreach teams with 26,136 bottles of water, 1,000 reusable water bottles, 2,000 cooling towels, 2,500 electrolyte packets and 2,500 packets of sunscreen.

The state of emergency County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson declared Friday, Aug. 22, expired at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 25.

County efforts help hundreds stay cool on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Multnomah County, with support from community partners, opened two cooling center locations each day from Friday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 24, serving dozens of people daily.

Cumulative daily visit totals across the cooling center locations were:

  • Friday, Aug. 22: Cumulative total of nearly 140 people
  • Saturday, Aug. 23: Cumulative total of 109 people
  • Sunday, Aug. 24: Cumulative total of 72 people

Additionally, on those same dates (Aug. 22-24), three Multnomah County Library branches extended their hours, closing at 8 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. 

Sunday, Aug. 24, library visitor totals during extended hours of 6 to 8 p.m.:

  • Central Library: 73 visitors (964 total Sunday visitors)
  • Gresham Library: 33 visitors (400 total Sunday visitors)
  • Midland Library: 51 visitors (559 total Sunday visitors)

Sunday’s 911 calls down from Saturday; emergency department visits remain slightly elevated

The number of 911 calls on Sunday in Multnomah County were lower than the volume seen on Friday and Saturday.

Daily 911 call volume in Multnomah County (a typical day sees about 338 calls):

  • Friday, Aug. 22: 415 total calls. At least 44 were heat-related and included people who were housed, unhoused and those at sporting events.
  • Saturday, Aug. 23: 367 total calls. At least 13 were heat-related and included people who were housed, unhoused, working outside and exercising. 
  • Sunday, Aug. 24: 344 total calls. At least eight calls were heat-related and included older people in housing without air conditioning and people who had been at outdoor events.

Heat-related emergency department and urgent care visits continued to be slightly above average on Sunday. Daily heat-related emergency department/urgent care visits (a typical day sees zero or one visit):

  • Friday, Aug. 22: 16 heat-related visits
  • Saturday, Aug. 23: five heat-related visits
  • Sunday, Aug. 24: five heat-related visits

Air quality poor for sensitive groups; inside in a cool place is safest

Public Health is advising people in sensitive groups should watch air quality and move indoors during the afternoon and early evening hours when ozone (smog) is likely to peak. Sensitive groups include children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions. Check air quality before being active if you have asthma or another respiratory condition.

The mandatory wood burning restriction for residents in Multnomah County remains in place alongside the Multnomah County Fire Defense Board-issued burn bans for fire safety. 

Stay safe if seeking relief in waterways

Many people might be in natural waterways this week to beat the heat. 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. Due to recent Willamette River closures due to toxic blue green algae, avoid any area with possible algae. Find more information and the latest advisories from the State of Oregon.

Heat doesn’t affect everyone equally: Who’s most at risk?

Extreme heat can be deadly for anyone in spaces without air conditioning, and it does not affect everyone equally:

  • Two out of every three people who have died because of extreme heat since 2021 were men over 50.
  • Most lived alone and without air conditioning.
  • Heat has also particularly affected veterans who may try to “tough out” a heat wave. Overall, veterans accounted for roughly half of all recent heat deaths. 

High temperatures can also be especially dangerous for people spending prolonged time outdoors, the very young, pregnant individuals, those over 50 and people with health conditions. 

Officials warn that the cumulative days of heat with such little overnight cooling — especially in apartments with no air conditioning — increase risk especially for people who are homebound, elderly, have a disability or underlying health conditions.

Stay informed and check on your community

If you are concerned someone is in heat distress, ask if they need help finding a cool space.

Heat illness requires action and possibly medical attention. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. For medical emergencies, call 911. If you're not comfortable approaching someone, call the City of Portland’s non-emergency line at 503-823-3333 and request a “welfare check.”