MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. — A state of emergency has been declared in Multnomah County due to extreme heat.
Officials held a press conference on Thursday morning to warn people about the potentially deadly conditions.
“Find air conditioning; maybe not be out there during the hottest part of the day. Make sure you drink plenty of fluids,” said Chris Voss, Multnomah County Director of Emergency Management.
County officials said seven people have died from suspected heat-related illnesses in 2024 and are warning residents to check in on their neighbors, especially those at high risk.
“We want to make sure people are checking in on those folks that maybe live down the hall or down the street — folks that you might not see that often; maybe you know they live alone,” explained Dr. Richard Bruno with the Multnomah County Health Department.
Cooling centers have been activated in Multnomah County, as well as additional outreach services for people who are unhoused.
“Outreach workers are out in the community right now; they have been out since yesterday morning, providing cooling supplies and water to folks experiencing homelessness. They are also handing out information on cooling centers and how to access them,” said Anna Plumb, Deputy Director of the Joint Office of Homeless Services.
For people trying to find relief in area rivers, AMR River Rescue teams at High Rocks Park in Clackamas County and Glen Otto Park in Troutdale have been extended for an additional week due to high demand.
“Our program was meant to be done on Labor Day when our season typically ends, but looking at the hot weather over this weekend, we decided to keep it going through this next upcoming Sunday,” said Grace Goodrich with AMR River Rescue.
Multnomah County officials pointed to a changing climate as the reason behind an increase in deadly heat waves that have led to 85 heat-related deaths over the last three years.
“Global warming is real; we know patterns of weather have been changing. Temperatures are rising in our area. We want to make sure we are doing the best that we can prevent any heat-related illness and keep people safe and cool,” added Bruno.