One person died during Clark County’s recent spate of cold weather, according to Clark County Public Health.
Clark County Public Health said the person who died was in their 80s and was housed. Hypothermia was listed as a contributing factor in their death. They died in the past two weeks, according to spokeswoman Marissa Armstrong.
Although forecasts predicting snow accumulation early in the week didn’t come to fruition, overnight temperatures were below freezing.
Chances of snow are not out of the forecast through the weekend, with a low of 31 degrees expected Saturday night and 28 degrees Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service in Portland.
Clark County’s emergency shelters remained open Thursday night and may be extended through Feb. 11, according to the nonprofit Council for the Homeless. Earlier this year, officials changed the threshold for emergency shelter services from 32 degrees to 36 degrees.
Overnight warming centers can be found at:
- Living Hope Church, 2711 N.E. Andresen Road, Vancouver. Hours: 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Nearest C-Tran bus route: No. 32 or Fourth Plain Vine.
- The Salvation Army of Camas/Washougal, 1612 I St. in Washougal. Hours: 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Pets are welcome and the location has a few kennels on-site.
Anyone who needs shelter or housing assistance can call the Council for the Homeless’ Housing Hotline at 360-695-9677 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays.
C-Tran has said it will not turn anyone away who needs a ride to a warming shelter during extreme temperatures. If passengers tell the driver they’re heading to a warming shelter, fares won’t be enforced.
Clark County EMS Medical Director Marlow Macht reminds people to stay hydrated during the cold weather, especially when it’s dry outside.
“Particularly in the dry cold, people with limited access to water can become dehydrated because thirst cues decrease, but the body uses a lot of moisture to warm the air,” Macht said in the Council for the Homeless’ Facebook post. “No need to hyper-hydrate, just have water or warm drinks available when possible.”
