SALEM, Ore. — Gov. Tina Kotek on Tuesday evening directed multiple state agencies to employ additional resources to aid in the extreme winter storm conditions spreading across Oregon.
“Over the last few days, state employees and countless local responders have worked around the clock and volunteered their time to support their fellow Oregonians in need as frigid temperatures and winter storm conditions left thousands without power and at risk for medical emergencies,” Gov. Kotek said in a statement. “I want to thank everyone across the state who continue to help those in need. In times of crisis, I’m always inspired by how Oregonians step up to take care of one another."
More than 100 shelters across the state were supported by the Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Resiliency and Emergency Management, including the first-ever emergency warming shelter in Malheur County, according to the news release. The agency also organized over 170 state employees to serve in warming shelters across 19 counties and provided more than 800 meals for 535 people.
Over the weekend, the Oregon Department of Transportation used around 400 snowplows, with crews working to clear state highways. With a separate ice storm on Tuesday, crews have been working 12-hour workdays trying to keep the roads clear and safe to drive on.
The Oregon State Police have provided police escorts to public utility companies traveling to restore power to thousands, after downed trees and ice caused widespread outages. Utility line crews with the Oregon Public Utilities Commission have also been working around the clock to get service restored.
The frigid temperatures are expected to continue in many parts of the state through Wednesday morning, with an Ice Storm Warning in effect for Portland and Salem areas. Ice could accumulate on surfaces to a quarter-inch or more and could grow closer to an inch in the north Willamette Valley.
