If you are in need of immediate assistance, call 911.

EMERGENCY COOLING AND SMOKE SHELTERS*

As high temperatures and wildfire smoke hit the Columbia River Gorge and Mid-Columbia regions this summer, the houseless community will face extreme risk to their health and well-being from exposure to unhealthy conditions that create life-threatening situations. Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is partnering with Mid Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC) and other agencies and nonprofits to provide Emergency Cooling Shelters and relief from unhealthy air quality for vulnerable populations during extreme conditions.

When a life-threatening EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING or UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY advisory is issued by the National Weather Service, area partners below will open available Emergency Shelters in affected areas:

WASHINGTON LOCATIONS

SKAMANIA County:

WAGAP Emergency Cooling and Smoke Shelter
Adjacent to the Hegewald Center
11 AM - 7 PM
710 SW Rock Creek Drive
Stevenson, WA 98648

KLICKITAT County:

City of White Salmon Fire Hall
Operating as a Cooling Center only when temps reach 100 degrees, not available as a smoke center.
11 AM - 7 PM
119 NE Church Avenue
White Salmon, WA 98672
For questions call 509-493-1133 ext 203

Father’s House Fellowship
11 AM - 7 PM
207 S. Klickitat Ave.
Goldendale, WA 98620
To receive services call the main office
between 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM at 509-773-4719
Outside of these hours call 509-261-2491
Staff will make arrangements to provide shelter

OREGON LOCATIONS

HOOD RIVER County:

Primary location - Hood River Alliance Church
11 AM - 7 PM
(Not available on Sundays or the last two weeks in August.)
2650 Montello Avenue
Hood River, OR 97031

Backup location - Hood River Fire Department Community Room
(If conditions exist, will cover Sundays and last two weeks in August when Hood River Alliance Church is not available.)
11 AM - 7 PM
1785 Meyer Parkway
Hood River, OR 97031

Drop-in space - Hood River Library
During regular hours of operation
502 E State Street
Hood River, OR 97031

WASCO County:

St. Vincent DePaul Center
11 AM - 7 PM
505 W 9th St.
The Dalles, OR 97058

SHERMAN County:

Office of Emergency Management
Call 541-565-3100 for information
Leave a message for staff to return your call

*Many factors must come into play before a shelter will be opened:

WAGAP and MCCAC are basing the decision of when to open a shelter using guidance from the Oregon Health Authority for Excessive Heat Warnings. To learn more go to https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/DiseasesConditions/CommunicableDisease/PreparednessSurveillanceEpidemiology/Documents/understandha.pdf
The heat index is a temperature adjusted for humidity and more details can be found at https://www.weather.gov/ama/heatindex.
Learn more about the Air Quality Index at https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/ and Protection from Wildfire Smoke at https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/adopted/2022/ao4-2022-text-smoke-exposure.pdf.

Detecting heat emergencies

Everyone is urged to take precautions when temperatures rise. See the charts below for some basic information on the difference between heat exhaustion and even more serious heat stroke. Staying cool, well-hydrated, and out of the sun and smoke are the basic first steps to remaining healthy. Check-in often on vulnerable persons, including elderly adults, to be sure they have the resources they need.

If someone is in an emergent situation CALL 911.