January ice storm response hindered by staffing problems, Multnomah County says

Multnomah County struggled to staff shelters and transportation units during the severe ice storm that struck the region in January, resulting in people being forced back out into the cold.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A new report from Multnomah County showed that complications with staffing may have impacted the county’s ability to respond to a severe ice storm that struck the region in January.

Despite opening a record-breaking 12 shelter sites that supported more than 13,000 people at the storm's peak and coordinating more than 400 rides, details reveal fragilities in the city’s 10-day response.

According to a new after action report, Multnomah County struggled to staff its shelters.

"The county should plan to continue staffing beyond a projected closure so decisions can be altered if forecasts are not realized,” the report said. “Staffing of the passenger transportation unit was insufficient for the demand, and there were many shifts where county vehicles were idle because of a lack of drivers."

During the storm, people living outside told KOIN 6 they struggled to get into shelters. When a reporter tried to call 211 to get a ride for a couple, it never came.

Some of those who made it in say they were forced back out into the cold.

"There are times when the weather is so significant that the resources that we normally utilize are just not available at the level that we need them,” Emergency Management Director Chris Voss said.

The report comes after Multnomah County faced criticism from local and state officials for choosing to close shelters before the thaw – effectively leaving the county’s homeless population to sleep on sheets of ice.

"They made us leave at 8 a.m.,” Philip, a man experiencing homelessness, said. “Why would you close them, knowing that it's still cold outside and people still need this?"

In hindsight, Voss said the county should have stayed open that day.

"The reality is the staff were not there,” he said. “And so it put us in a position when the forecast doesn't materialize, that we can't just show up and stay open when you don't quite have the staffing."

Moving forward, Voss said he wants to make sure the county has the staffing flexibility to stay open as needed. This is especially in regard to dangerous road conditions and the increased demand of systems like 211.

"I'd love to work with TriMet even more, improve the systems on 211, but even see what we could do from the county in the city to also address this issue,” he said.

According to the report, the health department recorded more than 1,200 falls, 100 cold-related emergency visits and 12 incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The deaths of nine people are believed to be connected to the store. The medical examiner suspected that four people had died of hypothermia, three were killed by downed power lines - one died from a fallen tree.

Another person died of unknown causes after being transported from a shelter. Details of their death have yet to be released.