Multnomah County Delays Cooling Shelter Decision as Portland Faces 100-Degree Heat Risk
Updated
Updated · Willamette Week · Jun 11
Multnomah County Delays Cooling Shelter Decision as Portland Faces 100-Degree Heat Risk
1 articles · Updated · Willamette Week · Jun 11
Summary
Multnomah County will wait until each day of the heat wave to decide whether to open cooling centers or overnight shelters, even as Portland could top 100 degrees Monday.
An extreme heat watch now runs Sunday through Tuesday, with highs in the 90s and overnight lows in the upper 60s to near 70, leaving little relief.
County officials said shelters have already been selected, supplied and staffed by contractors, but locations will be announced only if HeatRisk thresholds are met; Portland is expected to hit red, or major risk, on Monday.
The county says outreach is its main heat strategy because 13 of 14 confirmed heat-related deaths from 2021 to 2024 were people living indoors, often vulnerable residents without effective air conditioning.
Clackamas County has already announced 17 cooling centers and will post any overnight shelter decision at 11 a.m. daily, highlighting a more defined response next door.