Federal and local agencies work with citizen scientists to map hotspots around Portland

Portland area counties are joining together to work on a regional heat map. The data will be collected by volunteers, and public health officials hope that the information can help better prepare the region for hotter summers. 

In a typical year in Portland, no heat related deaths are reported. In 2021, after the record-breaking heat dome, at least 69 deaths resulted from extreme heat in the last week of June, according to Multnomah County. Summers in Oregon are heating up, and public health officials say that managing heat islands will be an important part of addressing rising temperatures.

Kathleen Johnson is a senior program coordinator at Washington County Public Health. Morgan Zabow is a community heat and health information coordinator for NOAA. And J’reyesha Brannon is a volunteer with Multnomah County who will be collecting data for the heat map research. They join us to share more on the importance of exploring heat in and around Portland and the potential for collaboration among health officials and the general public.