Extreme Heat Services
Cooling centers, emergency shelters, and heat-safety resources — activated when temperatures are dangerously high
Emergency Cooling Centers — Lane Events Center (Primary Site)
SVdP operates cooling centers in partnership with Lane County during extreme heat events. The primary site is the Lane Events Center (Lane County Fairgrounds) — a large, air-conditioned venue with amenities including seating areas, restrooms, water, and snacks. Centers activate when temperatures become dangerously high and remain open longer when temps reach 98°F and overnight lows stay above 60°F. Open to everyone: elderly, families, and unhoused individuals. Pets may be accommodated at satellite sites.
Eugene Service Station — Daytime Cooling
The SVdP Eugene Service Station is an air-conditioned daytime refuge available during heat events, offering a safe place to cool down with access to water and basic services.
Cooling Spaces Network
During declared heat emergencies, Lane County coordinates a network of cooling spaces across the county at libraries, community centers, and government buildings. Springfield City Hall and the Siuslaw Public Library in Florence are among regular sites.
Extreme Weather Shelter for Families
CCS provides emergency motel vouchers for families during extreme weather events, including heat waves. Families must register at a CCS location and sign up by 2 p.m. on the day of activation.
Summer Survival Hub — Heat & Smoke Guidance (Official County Page)
Lane County Public Health's central resource for surviving extreme heat and wildfire smoke. The Summer Survival Hub covers: where to find cooling and smoke shelter locations, how to stay hydrated and reduce heat illness risk, guidance on when to stay indoors during smoke events, DIY air filtration tips (box fan + MERV-13 filter), what symptoms to watch for, and links to Extreme Heat FAQs in English and Spanish. The companion "Staying Safe When It's Hot or Smoky" page lists current cooling and clean-air shelters across Lane County, updated regularly during active events.
Home Heat Pump Installation (Income-Qualified)
Oregon's Community Heat Pump Deployment Program helps low-to-moderate income households — including renters — access energy-efficient heat pumps that provide both cooling in summer and heating in winter. EWEB participates as a local utility partner. The program has reached capacity for new participants but new rounds of funding are being sought.
Extreme Cold & Warming Services
Emergency warming centers and shelters activated when overnight temperatures drop to dangerous levels
Egan Warming Centers — Eugene & Springfield
The Egan Warming Centers program (named for a veteran who died of exposure in 2008) activates when forecasted overnight temperatures are projected to drop below 30°F. Volunteer-run sites provide sleeping pads, blankets, warm drinks and meals, and basic first aid. Open to anyone in the community — no documentation required.
Warming Spaces — County-Wide
During declared extreme cold events, Lane County lists additional warming spaces at community centers and other sites. The Willamalane Adult Activity Center in Springfield is a regular site. Cottage Grove Community Sharing runs a warming center with extended hours and pets welcome.
Utility Assistance
SVdP helps low-income households in Lane County maintain electricity, water, and heat service when unexpected emergencies cause missed payments or risk of shutoff. If you've exhausted other options, contact SVdP to see if assistance is available.
Wildfire Smoke & Air Quality
Monitoring, alerts, and guidance for protecting your health during smoke events — which now affect Lane County every summer
Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring & Advisories
LRAPA is Oregon's only local air authority and operates a network of air monitors across Lane County. During smoke events, LRAPA issues air quality advisories with health guidance and regularly updates conditions. Eastern Lane County (Oakridge, Vida, Blue River) is most frequently affected.
Wildfire Smoke Health Guidance
Lane County Public Health provides guidance on protecting yourself during smoke events, particularly for sensitive groups: pregnant women, young children, older adults, and people with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or prior stroke. Key advice: stay indoors, limit outdoor activity, use N95/P100 respirators (not cloth masks), and use HEPA air purifiers.
Bethel Clean Energy Project — Air Filtration
Beyond Toxics' Bethel Clean Energy Project is a pilot initiative that provides free or low-cost clean energy home improvements, including indoor air filtration, to Bethel neighborhood residents in Eugene — a community disproportionately affected by air quality issues. Contact Beyond Toxics to learn about current availability.
Energy & Utility Resilience
Emergency water, wildfire-resilient infrastructure, and preparing your home for extended outages
Emergency Water Stations
EWEB has established seven operational emergency water stations across Eugene — each providing up to two gallons of water per person per day from on-site wells or portable treatment systems with backup power. These stations are designed to function during major disasters when regular water service may be unavailable.
Pledge to Prepare — 12-Month Emergency Readiness
EWEB's free "Pledge to Prepare" program guides customers through building a two-week emergency kit — water, food, medicine, and supplies — in monthly steps. Experts recommend two weeks of self-sufficiency due to potential multi-day or multi-week outages from events like the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake or severe storms.
Wildfire Infrastructure Upgrades & Public Safety Power Shutoffs
EWEB is burying power lines, replacing wooden poles with fire-resistant metal poles, and updating equipment in high-risk areas (south Eugene hills, near natural areas). About 30% of EWEB's 10-year capital budget is dedicated to resilience investments. During extreme fire weather conditions, EWEB may enact a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) — customers in high-risk zones should prepare for extended outages during wildfire season.
Emergency AC & Air Filter Distribution
Oregon law (HB 4058, passed 2022) directs OHA to create a program to acquire and distribute air conditioners and air filters on an emergency basis to Medicaid-eligible individuals. Contact OHA or your local Oregon Health Plan coordinator to inquire about current availability of devices for heat-vulnerable households.
Shelter, Food & Broader Emergency Services
Year-round services from SVdP and partners, relevant during climate emergencies and economic hardship they cause
SVdP has operated in Lane County since 1954, serving approximately 35,000 people annually. During climate emergencies, their services become critical lifelines. svdp.us · 541-687-5820
🛏️ Shelter Programs
- Dusk to Dawn overnight program (heated communal tents)
- Safe Sleep Site — 410 Garfield, Eugene (86 heated indoor spaces)
- Safe Parking Program (vehicle sheltering, 55 vehicles, 310 Garfield)
- First Place Family Center & Night Shelter Annex (families with children)
- Egan Warming Centers (winter extreme cold, see above)
- Seasonal Cooling Centers (summer extreme heat, see above)
🍞 Food & Material Assistance
- Emergency food boxes
- Vouchers to SVdP retail thrift stores for clothing and supplies
- Seasonal supply drives (winter clothes, socks, boots especially needed)
- Hot drinks and meals at warming center activations
💰 Financial & Self-Sufficiency
- Rent and utility assistance
- VIDA matched savings program
- Second Chance tenant education classes (8-week series)
- Affordable housing: 1,600+ units developed since 1988
- Youth & family wraparound case management
Preparedness Events & Resources
Lane County Emergency Management runs preparedness events and holds educational workshops on wildfire, earthquake, and weather preparedness. The county also maintains the Emergency Operations Plan, updated annually, and is developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Residents are encouraged to participate in surveys and planning processes.
211 Information & Referral Service
During any emergency — heat, cold, smoke, flood — call or text 211 to be connected with available shelters, food assistance, transportation, and other local resources. Available in 240+ languages by phone. Text your zip code to 898211; visit 211info.org for online search.
⚠️ The Funding Gap: A Critical Challenge for Lane County
In December 2024, Lane County and United Way of Lane County were awarded a $19.6 million EPA Community Change Grant — enough to build six resilience hubs spanning from Florence to Oakridge, train volunteers, and equip communities for wildfires and heat waves. In May 2025, the federal government cancelled the grant. Local leaders, including Oakridge Mayor Bryan Cutchen, stated that the cancellation "puts lives at risk." EWEB's nearly $1 million FEMA wildfire mitigation grant for power line improvements also faces uncertainty under similar federal freezes.
At the same time, Oregon's 2025 legislative session failed to allocate funds for community resilience hubs, heat pump programs, and natural and working lands initiatives — programs the Oregon Environmental Council called "critical climate resilience programs" that will now "stall or shut down entirely" without funding. Lane County advocates and local organizations are mobilizing to find replacement funding and state solutions.
Key Plans, Reports & Organizations
Foundational documents and local organizations working on climate resilience in Lane County
Lane County Climate Action Plans
Three-phase plan adopted in 2022: (1) Internal Operations Climate Action Plan, (2) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan, and (3) Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan. The county convenes a monthly Lane Regional Resiliency Collaborative with City of Eugene, LRAPA, EWEB, and UO.
Climate Action Plan 2.0 & Resilience Page
Eugene's CAP 2.0 (adopted July 2020) includes 23 resilience actions focused on wildfires, flooding, extreme heat, drought, and storm resilience. The City's Resilience webpage tracks implementation — currently 61% complete.
Equitable & Resilient Climate Strategies Report
Community-led report from the Lane County Climate Equity and Resilience Task Force. Identifies priorities including climate resilience hubs, air filtration programs near wildfire areas, and workforce development in forestry/agriculture. Located at 120 Shelton McMurphey Blvd, Suite 280, Eugene.
2025 Wildfire Mitigation Plan
EWEB's board-adopted plan directs infrastructure hardening, power line undergrounding, Public Safety Power Shutoffs during extreme fire weather, and operational changes to reduce wildfire ignition risk. About 20% of EWEB's distribution system maintenance budget is dedicated to wildfire-related work.