NEWS RELEASE: Six Multnomah County severe weather shelters remain open all day through at least noon Friday, Feb. 14; two more sites opening Thursday night

On this page

  1. Transportation to shelters is available; call 2-1-1
  2. Volunteering to support our warming shelters
  3. Hundreds sought refuge at shelters Feb. 12
  4. Beyond shelters, other work ongoing to support the community
  5. Severe weather thresholds for opening emergency shelter
  6. Cold weather alerts for enhanced outreach
  7. Stay informed and check on neighbors

Multnomah County, Ore. (Feb. 13, 2025) — Multnomah County’s six severe weather shelters will remain open all day Thursday, Feb. 13, through at least noon Friday, Feb. 14, as the region braces for snow, sleet and ice.

With forecasts again meeting severe weather thresholds, the County is also adding beds at those sites and opening two more sites, starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, for a total of eight severe weather sites. The County is also supporting two seasonal shelters managed by the Salvation Army so they can remain open during the day instead of operating overnight only.

A total of 489 people came to the six shelters that opened last night.

Chair Jessica Vega Pederson also extended her emergency declaration for Multnomah County through at least 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14.

“These extended freezing temperatures — with the potential for freezing rain, ice and snow — are incredibly hazardous and require our entire community to respond,” said Chair Vega Pederson.

“Please stay off the road, check on your neighbors, and come in from the cold if you are without shelter. A big thank you to all our providers, staff and community members who are stepping up to help. Multnomah County will continue to do everything in our power to keep people safe, supported and out of this weather.” 

No one seeking shelter will be turned away. All sites welcome pets and are accessible to people with disabling conditions.

Although most local county, city and school districts are closed today due to winter weather, Multnomah County employees and service provider partners will keep these six severe weather shelters open all day today, Thursday, Feb. 13. They will remain open through at least noon Friday, Feb 14.

These two shelters will open starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13: 

Multnomah County and its partners continue to watch the forecasts and will be ready to keep shelters open longer as needed.

The County will continue to add capacity as needed and will continue to send official announcements if shelters remain open on additional days.

Please note that while emergency shelters and essential County services and sites are open today, most Multnomah County offices, libraries and services are closed.

Transportation to shelters is available; call 2-1-1

Free transportation to warming shelters will be available by calling 2-1-1. 211info staff are available to identify shelters and warming spaces in Multnomah County 24/7, along with transportation options. However, some ride arrivals today may take longer due to travel conditions.

Also, TriMet will not turn away anyone traveling to or from an emergency warming shelter. People planning to use TriMet to get to a warming shelter should check for routes at trimet.org and let the driver know they are headed to a shelter.

To find warming spaces open today, please see this interactive map. 

You can also download and print updated maps of shelter sites in English and Spanish:

If you are concerned about someone you see during colder conditions, such as an individual who is not dressed for the weather conditions, call the non-emergency response line at 503-823-3333 and request a welfare check.

If someone is unsheltered and their life appears to be in danger, call 9-1-1 for medical attention.

The Joint Office of Homeless Services is also continuing its enhanced outreach program today. The Joint Office has activated its coordinated outreach efforts repeatedly since Jan. 10, 2025, an unprecedented stretch in response to the past few weeks of cold temperatures.

For the latest information as conditions change, please bookmark and visit multco.us/cold.

Volunteering to support our warming shelters

During dangerous weather emergencies, Multnomah County opens life-saving Disaster Resource Centers (DRCs) across our community that offer people shelter, safety, resources and connection — especially those who are at greatest risk of harm. We often welcome the support of community members when the need arises. 

If and when the County needs to recruit volunteers from the community, needs will be posted on the “Volunteer at a County emergency shelter” webpage, as well the County’s social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and X). The volunteer webpage also includes information about upcoming info sessions and training opportunities, as well as emergency shelter roles and their requirements.

Many organizations providing aid to people experiencing homelessness also partner with community volunteers to offer their services and accept community donations. 211info also has a winter-focused donations site.

Hundreds sought refuge at shelters Feb. 12

In addition to the 489 people who sought refuge at the six emergency warming shelters overnight Feb. 12, an additional 177 people stayed at the two overnight Salvation Army seasonal winter shelters, and 18 others used emergency overflow beds made available at year-round shelters. That adds up to a total of 684 people staying in seasonal and severe weather spaces overnight. Pets were welcome. 

Overnight Feb. 12, 211info coordinated transportation for 112 people seeking shelter, including 10 with mobility devices. They responded to 246 calls in total. Community volunteers also continued to help drive people to shelters.

These seasonal and emergency shelters join Multnomah County and the City of Portland’s nearly 3,000 year-round shelter beds that operate 24/7 and are almost always at capacity. While those beds are often mostly full, they provide important respite for hundreds of people night after night and help keep more people out of the elements in the first place.

Beyond shelters, other work ongoing to support the community

The Joint Office of Homeless Services on Thursday, Feb. 13, will once again meet thresholds to activate its enhanced outreach program. During enhanced outreach, the Joint Office divides the County into zones and works with nonprofit providers and community groups to make sure each zone has one or more teams checking on people without shelter. The teams also deliver life-safety supplies, including warm clothing, blankets and hand warmers.

Since Jan. 10, the Joint Office has provided outreach teams with 5,900 hand warmers, 1,184 hoodies, 1,184 pairs of sweatpants, 5,900 ponchos, 3,540 warm hats, 3,540 pairs of warm gloves, 7,080 pairs of socks, 5,838 wool blankets, 5,630 tarps, 1,064 tents, 1,067 sleeping bags, 5,900 mylar blankets, and 111,100 bottles of water.

The County has also been monitoring emergency systems to measure how the weather is impacting the community.

Winter weather is especially dangerous for anyone experiencing houselessness, and can also pose a greater risk for older adults and people with disabilities.

Severe weather thresholds for opening emergency shelter

County staff monitor weather conditions and other factors, including temperature fluctuations, precipitation, windchill and emergency department visits for hypothermia. Once forecasts show the potential for thresholds to be met, officials meet daily to discuss those weather conditions — consulting with Emergency Management, Health Department, County Human Services and Joint Office experts — and then jointly decide on shelter plans as needed.

Severe weather shelters open as needed when any of the following thresholds are met for any one of the conditions below that are forecasted to persist for four (4) hours or more between the hours of 8 p.m. and 7 a.m.

  • Forecast temperature of 25° F (-4° C) or below
  • Forecast temperature at or below 32° F (0° C) with 1 inch or more of rain and with sustained winds greater than 10 mph overnight
  • Forecast snow accumulation of 1 inch (25 mm) or more over a 24-hour period

The County’s Chief Operating Officer or their designee may consider other conditions or circumstances during a severe weather event that could increase the risk to the community and activate elements included in this standard operating procedure.

The basic thresholds the County uses were first developed and used by the City of Portland, before the Joint Office of Homeless Services was created, when the City served as the lead agency providing severe weather shelter for adults experiencing homelessness. The County has since expanded the thresholds and added a separate cold weather response on nights when thresholds aren’t met.

Cold weather alerts for enhanced outreach

Even when severe weather thresholds aren't met, the Joint Office of Homeless Services may issue a “cold weather alert” as cold and wet conditions warrant. This activates enhanced outreach. Cold weather alerts do not activate the County’s response to open severe weather beds at additional warming shelters.

During enhanced outreach, providers conduct additional and focused outreach to find vulnerable people, and they can quickly obtain and distribute cold weather gear from the Joint Office supply distribution center. Providers will also step up coordination to share information on resources and available shelter. Overflow shelter capacity will be made available to outreach workers, who can refer people in need.

The following conditions lasting for four (4) or more hours overnight activate the highest level of enhanced outreach. In some cases, thresholds may be met only in certain zones; enhanced outreach can be specific to those zones.

  • Temperatures forecast to reach 32 degrees or below, without precipitation
  • Windchills forecast to reach 25 degrees or below, without precipitation
  • Temperatures forecast to reach 34 degrees or below, alongside precipitation of more than one tenth of an inch

Stay informed and check on neighbors

Emergency managers and the Multnomah County Health Officer are advising all community members to get ready. Check on your neighbors: Please knock on the door, make the call, let people know if you’re going to the store and ask how you might help.

Care for When It’s Cold: Up-to-date information from Multnomah County on shelters, safety and support.

211info.org: Up-to-date info on weather conditions, available resources, where to find the nearest available shelter and transportation options. You can also find out where you can donate winter weather items to those who need them. Sign up for Severe 

Winter Weather alerts via email or text by going to 211info’s sign-up page.

National Weather Service: Check weather warnings in the Portland Metro area.

Public Alerts: Sign up to get emergency alerts about safety concerns in your area.

TriMet Alerts: Check for winter weather advisories.

ODOT TripCheck: The Oregon Department of Transportation TripCheck site updates Oregon road conditions and streams live roadside video.

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