PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As an arctic blast hit the region Saturday night, Multnomah and Washington County opened severe weather shelters.
Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced a state of emergency would start at 6 p.m. Saturday night. At 8 p.m. four shelters opened until 8 a.m. Sunday morning.
The four shelters in Multnomah County are:
- Arbor Lodge, 1952 North Lombard Street, Portland
- The Portland Building, 1120 Southwest 5th Avenue, Portland
- Salvation Army Moore Street Gymnasium, 5325 North Williams Avenue, Portland
- Multnomah County East Building, 600 Northeast 8th Street, Gresham
Free transport to the shelters is available by calling 211 or taking TriMet.
Chris Voss, director of emergency management for Multnomah County, told KOIN 6 News that 211 is the best resource for those who need assistance, but if there is an emergency call 911.
“If someone sees someone out there and they are struggling with the conditions, that’s a 911 call,” Voss said. “Otherwise, folks if they are wondering where they can go, or they are concerned for someone but it’s not an immediate issue, 211 is the best resource.”
In Washington County, two shelters opened at 2 p.m. Saturday and will remain open until the cold weather passes.
The two shelters in Washington County are:
- The Salvation Army Building, 1440 Southeast 21st Avenue, Hillsboro
- Beaverton Community Center, 12350 Southwest 5th Street, Beaverton
The Washington County shelters are providing are accepting anyone and are providing hot meals.