Take care of yourself, Portland people!  And if you can, help take care of the people who need us most during severe weather. 

Get prepared for severe heat

Stay safe out there!  Preparing yourself, your household, and the people you care about is key.  It may also allow you to help others during the next hot weather emergency.

There are steps you can take now to help prepare for this weather:

• General emergency preparedness: https://www.portland.gov/pbem/employeepreparedness 
• Extreme heat safety: https://www.publicalerts.org/heat 
• The latest news on cooling centers and resources: "Help for When It's Hot"
• Prepare for a power outage: https://www.publicalerts.org/power-outage  

Expectations for Work During Inclement Weather City Closures

Review the BHR FAQ What are the City rules about Inclement Weather and Closures? for a refresher of expectations if any City closures, delayed openings, or early closures are needed. 

Plan to help others

During extremely severe weather, the City assists the Joint Office of Homeless Services with providing extra emergency shelters. It takes help from across the City to adequately staff emergency shelters when they open.

You can help by signing up to work in a shelter or delivering supplies, guests or staff to shelter sites. For more information about our shelter model, visit Multnomah County's Disaster Resource Center webpage.

Anyone interested in working at a Disaster Resource Center (DRC) should refer to our Training Guide and position descriptions. All Required Trainings are web-based. Position Descriptions: General Staff, Person In Charge, Feeding, Shelter Setup, Demobilization   

Emergency Shelter Work During Extreme Weather FAQ: This document explains the different opportunities for severe weather work related to shelter or cooling center operations, how to prepare for those roles, and how to code your time for the training and work.

If you’re not able to work at a shelter, there are other ways to help. Find out how to donate needed items here: https://www.211info.org/donations

Updated 7/21/2022