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Multnomah County extends emergency declaration, expands severe-weather shelters as winter storm continues
Summary
Chair Vega Peterson extended an emergency declaration through Friday and announced expanded shelter capacity and services across the county as severe winter weather continues; county reported at least 684 people used shelters overnight.
Multnomah County officials extended an emergency declaration and expanded severe-weather shelter operations on Feb. 13 as a winter storm brought snow, ice and cold temperatures to the region.
Chair Vega Peterson said the county will continue the emergency declaration through 6 p.m. Friday to give county staff and partners flexibility to mobilize resources during the storm, and she outlined shelter openings, expanded bed capacity and transportation supports.
"No one seeking shelter will be turned away," Chair Vega Peterson said during board comments, listing several sites that were open or expanding capacity. She said the county provided respite to at least 684 people in shelters the previous night and was adding additional beds and sites to meet expected demand.
Peterson named locations that were open or expanding capacity, including the Cook Plaza shelter at 19421 SE Stark Street in Gresham; the Hollywood shelter at 1815 NE 403rd Avenue in Portland; the Northwest 14th Avenue shelter at 600 NW 14th Avenue; Ascension Church Tony Rinella Hall at 823 SE 706th Avenue; Grand Oak Shelter at 324 SE Grand Avenue; and the Charles Jordan Community Center at 9009 N Foss Avenue. She said the list might grow as the county added "bell beds" and identified additional sites.
The chair also said the Behavioral Health Resource Center was operating with an expanded queue and the coordinated care pathway center was accepting eligible referrals. Free transportation to warming shelters is available via dialing 211, she said. Peterson urged residents to check on neighbors, warned drivers to give plows extra space and noted county road crews are operating 24 hours a day to manage roughly 270 miles of county roads.
Commissioners and staff thanked shelter operators and volunteers, and Peterson called out partner organizations and shelter operators including Cultivate Initiatives, Transition Projects and Do Good Multnomah for their assistance.
In addition to shelter updates, Peterson announced a virtual budget town hall scheduled for Saturday and encouraged public participation on budget priorities during the severe-weather response.
The county asked residents not to abandon vehicles (which can obstruct plows) and reminded that shelters accept pets and are accessible to people with disabilities.
