Social service organizations prepare aid for upcoming weekend heat

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — Hot weather Friday and Saturday in the Portland area has local organizations prepping to keep people cool and safe, especially since Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services said they are not activating any expanded outreach.

“Just making sure that we’re keeping people hydrated and allowing them to use our shade,” said Scott Kerman, Executive Director of Blanchet House. “We’ll also put out our misting tent tomorrow so people will have a chance to just kind of relax in that and cool off.”

The temperatures are looking to be in the highs of the mid-90s and lows in the 60s. But in July, a major heat wave had these organizations and the county take extra precautions.

“We decided to that we were going to extend our hours and that we would work all the way through the weekend at the data center, on top of having our day center open with misting tents and things like that,” said Kristle Delihanty, Executive Director of PDX Saints Love.

This time looks a little different, as a county spokesperson pointed out the temperatures do not meet the thresholds that would trigger a response.

These include temps above 94 degrees or higher for four hours or more, temps above 70 degrees overnight, as well as a heat alert issued by the National Weather Service.

Local organizations have mixed reactions to this decision.

“I certainly would hope that the county and our entire community can reassess these thresholds and be prepared if we need to make changes for next year,” Kerman stressed.

“It comes back to, like, those daytime versus nighttime temperatures,” noted Delihanty. “And I feel like this heat event – even though it’s pretty hot for an hour or two during the day – is different than what we’ve seen in prior years.”

When KOIN 6 reached out to surrounding counties to compare heat responses, a spokesperson for Washington County said they would continue to rely on their community-based partners who provide outreach and supportive services to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Clackamas County stated they will open daytime and nighttime cooling centers when the National Weather Service declares that the region will be under a heat advisory, watch, or warning.

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