Multnomah County is reopening two daytime cooling centers today, Friday, Sept. 6, from noon to 9 p.m., with extended hours also available at specific libraries and a daytime homelessness services center downtown. Cooling centers will not reopen tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 7, with improved temperatures expected.
While forecasts by the National Weather Service indicate relief is on the way with cooler temperatures on Saturday, major to extreme heat risk, and poor air quality, continue today. Ozone pollution levels are high and unhealthy for sensitive groups. The County Health Department advises that the safest place for everyone with respiratory illness or sensitivities is inside, in air conditioning.
Multnomah County and its partners urge people to find ways to stay cool. Adults are encouraged to visit our cooling centers.
Families in particular, however, should visit cool spaces like library branches, community centers or friends who have air conditioning, even for a few hours. Those resources are also available for individuals.
Neighbors and friends should check on adults who live alone and don’t have air conditioning, and urge them, especially those over 50, to visit a neighbor with air conditioning, a library or other air conditioned space, including a cooling center.
And while outdoor parks with misting stations, interactive fountains or splash pads can provide relief from the heat, people — especially those who are sensitive to particulate matter in the air, or have respiratory or other health conditions — may want to consider visiting indoor, air-conditioned spaces to cool off due to air quality issues.
Cooling center locations, links to other cooling resources
The County’s cooling centers will be open from noon to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at:
- Cook Plaza, 19421 S.E. Stark St., Gresham — staffed by Cultivate Initiatives
- Portland Covenant Church, 4046 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Portland — staffed by Do Good Multnomah
TriMet won't turn away anyone riding to or from a cooling center who cannot pay fare today, Sept. 6., between 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
TriMet riders should tell their bus operator that they are heading to or from a cooling center. Prepare for riding during extreme heat at trimet.org/heat. Be prepared for the heat, stay well-hydrated and be sure to check trimet.org/alerts before you travel for the latest on delays.
Anyone needing additional transportation help should call 211.
Cool spaces are listed on this interactive map of splash pads and other sites. Portland Parks & Recreation splash pad and interactive fountain locations and up-to-date hours can be found here.
Multnomah County Library is extending the hours at the Central (801 S.W. 10th Ave., Portland) and Gresham (385 N.W. Miller Ave., Gresham) branches until 8 p.m today. Libraries will also have bottled water on hand, to provide additional places where people can go during the hottest parts of the day and evening. Visit the Library’s website for hours of operation for all library locations.
Hours will also be extended today at Transition Projects’ Bud Clark Commons Resource Center (650 N.W. Irving St., Portland) today until 6:30 p.m.
Nearly 150 people accessed the two cooling centers and the expanded space at Bud Clark Commons on Thursday, Sept. 5.
Fire danger and high ozone pollution
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning to include all of Multnomah County east of Troutdale through 11 p.m. today, Sept. 6.
Due to high heat and elevated ozone levels, the Health Department is issuing a mandatory wood burning restriction for residents in Multnomah County. The restriction comes alongside the Multnomah County Fire Defense Board-issued burn bans for fire safety.
The County’s air quality burn restriction, which went into effect yesterday, Sept. 5, will continue today and will be lifted when conditions improve. Recreational fires, agricultural burning and backyard burning are not allowed. These restrictions do not apply to cooking, but residents are encouraged to stay alert and use caution. Residents should check air quality before opening doors or windows and adjust or limit outdoor activities.
Everyone can help improve air quality by postponing unnecessary driving, mowing the lawn and painting until the heat wave passes.
Outreach continues; stay informed and check on your community
Multnomah County’s Department of County Human Services this week is continuing to contact providers, as well as vulnerable people living in older buildings without air conditioning, with information on heat safety and resources that will be available during the heatwave — with a concerted effort to reach residents in Gresham, Rockwood and downtown Portland. The department also distributes cooling kits to community-based organizations.
The Department also distributed cooling kits to five Portland Public schools in higher heat areas including Clark, Kelly, Lent, Vestal and Woodmere elementary schools.
The Joint Office of Homeless Services has been leading expanded street outreach this week, starting Wednesday, Sept. 4, working with outreach teams, mutual aid groups and community volunteers to coordinate outreach efforts and bring hot weather gear to people living without shelter across Multnomah County. That work will continue through today.
On Sept. 4 and 5, the office provided 34,416 bottles of water, 4,300 sunscreen packets, 4,300 electrolyte packets, 1,720 cooling towels and 860 reusable water bottles to outreach teams, all of which will be distributed to people in need.
While the heat risk to people living outside is well understood, many people don’t realize how dangerous heat is to older adults, young children and people with health conditions such as heart disease. The majority of those who died in Multnomah County of extreme heat during the June 2021 heat dome and heat waves since then were men over the age of 50 who were living alone in their own homes and either didn’t have air conditioning or had not turned it on.
People are urged to take steps to protect themselves, including cooling their home, staying hydrated and watching for signs of heat illness. Because homes and apartments may not have cooled substantially overnight, neighbors and friends should check on adults who live alone and don’t have air conditioning. Urge isolated adults, especially those over 50, to visit a cooling center, a neighbor with air conditioning, a library or mall.
If you are concerned that someone may be in distress because of the heat, you can ask how they're doing and if they need help finding a cool space.
Heat illness requires action and possibly medical attention. If someone is confused, loses consciousness, or has red, hot skin — this could be heat stroke, which is a medical emergency. If you're not comfortable approaching them, you can call the City of Portland non-emergency line at 503-823-3333 and say “welfare check.” If you see someone having a medical emergency, call 911.
- Help for When it's Hot: Latest information from the County on cooling centers, health and safety.
- 211 Info: Call to find the cooling center nearest you and for transportation support.
- Public Alerts: Sign up to receive safety alerts in your area.
- National Weather Service: Check the forecast and plan outdoor activities for coolest times of day.
- Aging and Disability Resource Connection: 24-hour information and assistance to older people, people with disabilities and caregivers. Connect with them at 503-988-3646 or adrc@multco.us.