Another Dangerous Heatwave is Bearing Down on Portland This Week: Here's What You Need to Know
2021-08-09
The third major heatwave of the summer promises to bring 100-plus degree days back to Portland.
Photo by Jeremy Zero on Unsplash
Extreme heat is expected to return to the Portland metro area again this week and local officials are gearing up to offer a new and improved heat response to residents who need help.
While deaths occurred across the state of Oregon, the bulk of the fatalities happened right here in Portland. An estimated 57 people in the city of Portland died from heat-related illnesses, including:
Northeast Portland: 17 deaths
Southeast Portland: 26 deaths
North Portland: 3 deaths
Northwest Portland: 5 deaths
Southwest Portland: 6 deaths
Deaths were also reported in the Portland suburbs of Gresham, Hillsboro, and Beaverton.
Lack of air conditioning was cited as a major reason for many of the heat-related deaths. In some cases, residents perished in high-rise apartments where common areas had air conditioning, in other cases residents were unaware of where they could go to cool down or that transportation was available.
Older adults and individuals living in mobile homes, campers, or vehicles were more likely to die due to the heat.
These are some of the findings from "after-action reports" that were completed by local emergency management officials to evaluate why Portland took the burnt of the impact of the June heatwave, and to plan for better response in the future. Some of the changes were rolled out in July during a period of several days where the temperature topped one hundred degrees.
Photo by đ¸đŽ Janko FerliÄ on Unsplash
This coming week temperatures are expected to be 90 degrees or higher for at least six days, with three of those days anticipated to have temperatures over 100 degrees.
Officials will plan to use the emergency alert system to ensure that residents know that the region is entering a period of extreme heat. This system was used during a stretch of hot days in July.
Cooling centers will likely be opened as well, assuming that temperatures reach temperatures that are high enough to trigger cooling center protocols. Cooling center locations and hours for Multnomah County, as well as the rest of the state, will be listed on the 211info webpage and regularly updated.
Multnomah County's "Help for When It's Hot" webpage also includes information on cooling centers, tips for avoiding heat-related illnesses, and other real-time information on how to stay safe in the heat.
In preparation for a heat event, residents are encouraged to consider the following steps:
Stock up on water, electrolyte drinks, and meals that can be prepared without using a stove or oven.
Re-stock emergency kits in case of a power outage.
Be sure fans and air conditioners are in working order.
Complete any necessary errands before the heatwave starts, such as refilling prescriptions or going grocery shopping.
Create a plan to check in on family members and neighbors who are at higher risk of heat-related illnesses, particularly the elderly and people with chronic health conditions.
Sign up for emergency alerts and pay attention to alerts sent to your phone or email.
Familiarize yourself with the signs of heat-related illness and seek medical attention as needed.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Itâs essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
