TIGARD, Ore. — Multnomah County on Tuesday reported two more possible hypothermia deaths, marking the fifth person believed to have died as a result of the freezing temperatures in the Portland metro area since last week. Washington County reported its first death earlier in the day.
One of the two new Multnomah County deaths happened in Northeast Portland. The second was reported in Southeast Portland on Monday. The previous two deaths happened in North Portland and around the Central Eastside area.
The Multnomah County Medical Examiner's Office is still investigating the deaths, and county officials said confirmation of the precise cause will not happen for several weeks or months.
"All deaths are still considered suspected cases and are under investigation as potential cold-weather-related deaths," Multnomah County said. "Further tests and investigation will determine whether the deaths are officially cold-weather-related."
The Washington County Medical Examiner’s Office said that a Tigard resident was found in their home on Monday. It will also be weeks or months before investigators officially confirm if the death was hypothermia-related, the examiner's office said.
Several other storm-related deaths have occurred since Friday, caused by downed trees or fires. On Saturday, a tree fell on an RV parked in a Southeast Portland neighborhood, taking down power lines and sparking a fire. One person died and other was injured.
In Lake Oswego, a person died after a tree fell on a house in the Southwood area due to high winds on Saturday morning. The tree crashed through the second floor, killing an elderly man, confirmed Lake Oswego Fire Marshal Gert Zoutendijk.
Temperatures over the weekend remained well below freezing in the Portland metro after a winter storm brought high winds, snow, sleet and freezing rain. Downed trees and ice caused widespread power outages with over 100,000 customers in the region without power over the weekend.
The frigid weather is expected to continue through Tuesday in the Portland metro area with freezing rain forecasted to fall in the early to mid-afternoon.
Washington County has opened three warming shelters as temperatures remain freezing. More shelters are also available in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Clark County.
For the latest information on available warming spaces and free transportation, call 2-1-1 or visit multco.us/cold. The county is also looking for volunteers to help at the warming spaces. Volunteers can sign up at multco.us/cold.
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