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Officials add a fifth shelter Thursday after high demand.

by Isabella Garcia

Update 12/22 4:10 pm:

Multnomah County is opening a fifth all-hour warming shelter Thursday as winter weather conditions worsen in the Portland region. The fifth shelter will open at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Oregon, at 5 pm Thursday.

The additional shelter was added after nearly 400 people sought shelter at the four warming shelters in Portland Wednesday night. The four shelters originally offered 310 beds, but Multnomah County, Portland, and Metro officials met demand Wednesday night by adding additional beds to the Oregon Convention Center shelter and moving some people to Reynolds High School. Reynolds officially opens as a shelter location at 5 pm December 22.

The National Weather Service forecasts a low of 23 degrees Thursday night, as well as a mix of snow, freezing rain, and strong wind. Freezing rain is expected to continue into Friday with a high of 32 degrees.

No one will be turned away from a shelter and the shelters will stay open as long as freezing temperatures persist. TriMet will not turn away riders going to or from a warming shelter regardless of their ability to pay fare. Residents who need a ride to a warming shelter can call 2-1-1 to coordinate a free ride.

Warming shelter locations:

• Reynolds High School, 1698 SW Cherry Park Rd., Troutdale, OR 97060 (Opening at 5 pm Thursday)
• Portsmouth Union: 4775 N. Lombard St., Portland, OR 97203
• Arbor Lodge: 1952 N. Lombard St., Portland, OR 97217
• Sunrise Center: 18901 E. Burnside St., Portland, OR 97233
• Oregon Convention Center: 960 NE 1st Ave. Portland, OR 97232 

Original story 12/21, 10:25 am:

Four all-hour warming shelters will open Wednesday in Portland at 8 pm as the region braces for freezing rain, snow, and temperatures in the teens. The shelters, all located in North and East Portland, have capacity for 310 people with room to expand as needed.

The National Weather Service is forecasting overnight temperatures in the mid-teens Wednesday night, with a winter storm advisory continuing into Friday. Snow is likely Thursday, followed by freezing rain on Friday. Multnomah County and Portland declared a state of emergency Tuesday in order to free-up emergency resources in the region, as well as warn residents of the severity of the weather.

“These will be the coldest temperatures in our area in two decades,” said tri-county Health Officer Jennifer Vines in a press release. “Our bodies are not used to extreme temperatures, which makes this as serious as the heat dome event in 2021. I am genuinely worried about people getting frostbite or succumbing to hypothermia.”

If you see someone in the cold who is not dressed for the weather or who may otherwise need help, local health officials ask that you call the non-emergency response line at 503-823-3333 and request a welfare check.

Multnomah County leaders also noted that several major hospitals in Portland are operating under Crisis Care Standards—meaning that hospital capacity is either exceeded or on the brink of being exceeded by demand due to RSV, COVID-19, and influenza cases. Because of the existing capacity challenges, local leaders are urging people—particularly travelers—to take precautions to avoid injury and asking everyone to wear a mask indoors.

TriMet will provide transportation to or from a warming shelter, regardless of a rider’s ability to pay fare. TriMet officials ask that riders who are traveling to a warm place tell the bus driver. People seeking transportation to a warming shelter can also call 2-1-1 to request a free ride.

The shelters will stay open as long as freezing temperatures continue.

Warming shelters opening Wednesday at 8 pm:

• Portsmouth Union: 4775 N. Lombard St., Portland, OR 97203 
• Arbor Lodge: 1952 N. Lombard St., Portland, OR 97217
• Sunrise Center: 18901 E. Burnside St., Portland, OR 97233
• Oregon Convention Center, 960 NE 1st Ave. Portland, OR 97232 

Year-round shelters can be found here.