Climate Change
Small Steps, Big Impact on the Environment
About Our Climate Change Program
Our Climate Change Program's primary goal is to educate people in Clackamas and Multnomah counties about emergency and disaster preparedness. We want to make sure that everyone is equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to prevent health and illness-related issues in extreme weather events, whether it be in the home or workplace.
We focus on serving vulnerable communities, including BIPOC, seasonal farmworkers, Latinx/e, and refugees. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that these communities are prepared for unexpected events by providing useful resources and support. We also help these communities with empowerment by helping improve their everyday living conditions in relation to climate change, such as providing resources on how to help lower their energy bills, providing weatherization resources, food security, and more. Our goal is to raise awareness and a better understanding of how they are affected by climate change and how it affects people and the environment.
Resources
AC Information & Resources
Contact 311 for assistance or call 503-823-4000 to request an air conditioning unit from the Cooling Portland program. They're available every day, from 7 am to 8 pm. You can also apply online through the City of Portland website.
If you have OHP, through your coordinated care organization, members can submit a request to receive a cooling device:
- Some of the criteria that are required to be eligible for a climate device include; you must be a current member, you're not able to get the air conditioning unit through any other benefit or means, the AC unit must be able to help you with a medical need or life situation, and you must be able to provide all required documentation that is asked for the request.
- There are limited supplies for AC units this year, those who are prioritized are individuals who are at higher risk for heat-related illness, such as those over 65, medically fragile children, or people with certain health conditions like diabetes or heart disease.
- Each request is on a case-by-case basis, so it's not guaranteed that you'll be granted an AC.
Alert System
Register to receive alerts about hazardous weather, power outages, or other dangers in your area. Go to publicalerts.org/signup to sign up. Signing up takes only a few minutes and could save lives.
- Remember to register to get alerts for the counties where you live and work if they are different.
- Enter your zip code in the PublicAlerts.org signup page to locate your county.
Wildfires
As Wildfire season in Oregon approaches, it is important to be alert and ready for the dangers that come with it. Here are some resources providing ways to be prepared for Wildfires.
More: Basic Needs
