Excessive heat warning prompts two different Oregon, Washington county responses

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Multnomah County announced on Thursday that daytime cooling shelters will open in Portland and Gresham on Friday as temperatures are forecasted to peak to the triple digits amid an excessive heat warning issued by the National Weather Service.

With this severe weather alert throughout much of our region, it's become a tale of two different county responses to keep people safe. While Multnomah, Washington and Clark Counties are holding out until Friday to open cooling centers, organizers in Clackamas and Marion County say these life saving measures can't wait.

"We're not going to stand on the sidelines when factors exist but vulnerable residents at risk," said Robert Marshall from the Arches Day Center in Woodburn.

At the start of a dangerous heatwave, Arches is already offering critical cooling for the homeless as outreach teams hit the streets to provide water and other basic needs.

"If there weren't an Arches here, we wouldn't have no place to go," said Carl Rhymes, a man experiencing homelessness.

45 minutes away in Clackamas County - with cranked air conditioner and a red, white and blue pancake breakfast - The Father's Heart in Oregon City opened their day center Thursday morning for those looking to escape the heat while libraries remain closed.

"It's critical because our folks who are outside often are not able to get that reprieve from the heat," said Brandi Johnson, Executive Director The Father's Heart and LoveOne. "It's just constant. You know, there's libraries that are open but like today, not so much. So it's coming at the time of year that it always does, but on a holiday it makes it a little more challenging."

The Father's Heart added they began prepping their response early this week and were able to get several people off the streets and into hotels Wednesday.

"We just want to give people a safe space, where they can be seen heard and loved," added Stephanie Hollingshead, The Father's Heart's Day Center Manager.

This comes after two Multnomah County libraries -- Central at 801 SW 10th Ave. in Portland and Gresham at 385 NW Miller Ave. -- announced they will extend their operating hours until 9 p.m. Friday and will be able to give out bottled water to those in need. Further, with the county declaring a state of emergency, three cooling shelter locations will operate from noon to 10 p.m., with free TriMet fares starting at 10 a.m.

According to the city of Gresham, no one will be turned away from these shelters and pets will also be welcome.

Additionally, starting Friday in Washington County, the Beaverton City Library Main and Murray Scholls branches will be available as cooling centers, with Beaverton's main branch extending hours until 9 p.m. through Sunday.

In Washington's Clark County, daytime cooling centers will be open on Friday at the Mill Plain United Methodist Church and Living Hope Church.

When asked why it was still important to have these resources available, despite not quite reaching triple-digit temperatures, Marshall noted people's lives are still at stake even in the current weather.

"Individuals that are experiencing homelessness and individuals that are out in these elements all the time don't have access to the same hydration and the same cooling resources that we have," he said. "So you know, even 90 degrees is still life threatening conditions."

Rhymes, who has been navigating homelessness for years, also weighed in on neighboring counties' decisions to wait.

"I've watched over the years, about ten to fifteen people die out here because the heat," he noted. "They need to contact Arches and figure out how to do it the right way. Because if I guarantee you, if you check back in a couple of weeks, like we got this heat wave they're going to have a lot of people dying out there."

The National Weather Service's excessive heat warning starts at noon on Thursday, July 4 for the Portland metro area and lasts until 8 p.m. on Monday. Officials say forecasts call for "dangerously hot conditions with temperatures 100 to 105 expected." Temperatures aren't expected to cool off much either after the excessive heat warning expires, according to KOIN 6 Meteorologist Josh Cozart.