The vulnerability of Multnomah County’s extreme weather response was revealed last year when ice and high winds swept through Portland. When the ground was still covered with ice, shelters closed, pipes in service buildings burst, and warming shelters frantically looked for volunteers.
Officials claim they have improved their winter weather response one year after these devastating ice storms to avoid a recurrence of the mistakes.
“In terms of facilities, leases, and partnerships, I think we’re in a better place,” said Chris Voss, the county emergency management director. In my opinion, we are also better prepared in terms of supply.
A report evaluating the emergency response after last year’s catastrophic storm was commissioned by the county last April. Officials in charge of emergency management suggested that the county revise its shelter regulations, enhance volunteer staffing arrangements, locate land for bigger and more durable warming shelters, and install generators in newly constructed government buildings.
According to Voss, the county has leased three new buildings that can be swiftly transformed into warming shelters as part of those efforts; the entire cost for the first three months of the year is approximately $84,000. Toiletries, blankets, and hand warmers are kept on hand in each building. According to county records, the locations, which are in Southeast, Northeast, and Northwest Portland, can accommodate 100 people each.
Additionally, officials have been working to increase the capacity of the Cook Plaza in Gresham, which they have previously used as a warming shelter, from 100 to 150 people.
In the event of a winter storm, the county should open larger sites rather than several smaller ones, according to last year’s assessment. It established twelve overnight shelters last year, offering sanctuary to roughly 1,350 individuals between January 12 and January 17, 2024. Voss stated that the county will set up ten shelters that could accommodate a comparable number of people in the event of a similar storm this winter.
January has been pleasant in Portland, with temperatures often above freezing and below-average rainfall. The second half of the month may be colder, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. According to the National Weather Service, Saturday night temperatures could fall as low as 29 degrees.
Voss stated that the county wants to be ready for anything because weather patterns are getting increasingly unpredictable.
When we depend on weather projections to complete this work, it becomes difficult, Voss stated. Climate change is happening right now. The basic fact is that these occurrences are becoming increasingly frequent.
The county shuttered its warming shelter on January 17 of last year because there was still ice on the roads and sidewalks. Temperatures stayed below freezing in several places, putting homeless Portlanders at risk of hypothermia. Officials relied on multiple weather forecasts that indicated morning temperatures would climb by mid-day and that the ice would thaw.
According to Voss, we were rather pleased with the work we completed. For many of us, including myself, the day we stated, “There is an area here that we are not happy with,” was the last one.
Following the shelter fiasco, the county modified the rules, enabling officials to open shelters earlier and maintain them open despite changing conditions.
Due to travel difficulties, training requirements, and short notice, the county had trouble staffing its shelters during the hurricane last year. Volunteers can now register to be contacted in the event of a weather emergency on the county’s volunteer page for emergency shelters, which was developed after the storm. Training and expectations information sessions are scheduled on the website.
According to Rachel Pearl, deputy director of the Department of County Human Services, it is a new project that we started and introduced last year to let the community know more about what we’re up to and how they can become engaged.
According to Pearl, the county’s emergency management team also increased staffing and gave workers additional training on managing overnight shelters and responding to weather-related emergencies.
Voss stated that, aside from one county-owned building that was turned into a shelter after a pipe burst, there was not a serious problem with weatherproofing structures to prevent pipes from leaking last year. According to Voss, the county did not have to turn anyone away and just relocated them to a new location. He went on to say that although the county has acquired a few emergency generators, backup generators have not yet been installed in county buildings.
At First Christian Church, which was also transformed into a warming shelter, a pipe burst.
Voss and Pearl also emphasized the county’s weatherization department’s efforts to keep individuals from ever requiring shelter in the first place. Programs offered by the county replace wood-burning stoves, install air conditioners, and supply heat pumps.
Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced on Thursday that she had spoken with Keith Wilson, the recently elected mayor of Portland, about being ready for winter weather. According to Vega Pederson, she has requested assistance from the city in paying for a number of important investments to prepare for severe weather.
“We are aware that severe weather is a possibility here,” she stated.
Next week, officials will give the Board of Commissioners an update on winter weather preparations.
Austin De Dios reports on programs, politics, and other topics in Multnomah County. You can reach him at @AustinDeDios, [email protected], or 503-319-9744.
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