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Multnomah County briefs commissioners on winter preparedness; plans for 1,300—1,400 shelters and staffing changes
Summary
County emergency management and Department of County Human Services briefed the Board on severe-weather thresholds, shelter capacity, partnerships with the City of Portland and the state, staffing recruitment and volunteer training ahead of winter weather.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners received a briefing on winter severe-weather preparedness, shelter activation thresholds and operational changes designed to keep people safe during cold events.
Chair Veil Peterson said she has requested coordination with the City of Portland on transportation support, concurrent staffing recruitment and use of community centers for emergency shelters. "I expect and look forward to shared commitment," the chair said, describing the county's approach as partnership-driven.
Chris Voss, Director of Emergency Management, described how the county monitors multiple indicators when deciding whether to activate shelter resources: daytime highs and wind chill, precipitation type, rapid temperature fluctuations after warm periods, gradients across the county, emergency-department visits and 9-1-1 data. Voss said the county uses a…
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