NOW
NOW ON
NOW ON KGW NEWS REALLY SOUNDING THE ALARM
SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE A PLAN
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND.
HEALTH OFFICIALS WANT YOU TO
PLAN NOW FOR HISTORICALLY HIGH
HEAT HEADED OUR WAY AND YOUR
AIR CONDITIONER MAY BE NO MATCH
FOR THE TRIPPLED ANYTHING ABOVE
NINETY FIVE DEGREES OUR AIR
CONDITIONING SYSTEMS ARE JUST
NOT DESIGNED TO KEEP UP WITH.
PLUS GUN VIOLENCE IS NOT JUST
PLAGUING PORTLANDER SOUTHRIDGE
HAS TO END THE PRESIDENT'S BIG
ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY TO TRY TO
STOP THE SHOOTINGS THEN LATER
OLYMPIC TALENT IN PORTLAND.
THE THORNES PLAYERS JUST MADE
TEAM USA GOOD EVENING.
WE START TONIGHT WITH TEAM
COVERAGE OF THAT HISTORIC HEAT
WAVE ABOUT TO SET IN.
LET'S GET AN UPDATE ON THE
FORECAST FIRST WITH CHIEF
METEOROLOGIST MATT ZAFFINO.
>> MATT, THANKS SO MUCH LAURA.
WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT
UNPRECEDENTED HEAT ALL ACROSS
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST SO WE'LL
JUST BE PORTLANDER IT'S GOING
TO BE A REASON WHY IT EXCEPT
OVER AT THE COAST WE'VE GOT AN
EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UP FOR
ALL THE INLAND AREAS OF WESTERN
OREGON AND SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO NORTHERN
CALIFORNIA AND THE OTHER AREAS
IN THE DARKER RED.
THAT'S AN EXCESSIVE WATCH THAT
WILL BE CONVERTED TO A WARNING
AS WE GET CLOSER TO SAID HEAT
WAVE.
WAVE.
WAVE. HERE'S WHAT'S GOING TO CAUSE
OF THIS BIG AREA OF HIGH
PRESSURE THAT DEVELOP
RIGHT OVER US NOW THERE ARE
SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT THIS THAT
ARE UNUSUAL I DON'T WANT TO
TALK ABOUT AND I WILL IN JUST A
MINUTE.
MINUTE.
MINUTE. BUT FIRST THE NUMBERS ON THIS
THREE STRAIGHT DAYS OVER 100
DEGREES.
DEGREES.
DEGREES. WE'VE NEVER SEEN THAT IN THE
MONTH OF JUNE EVER.
THE RECORD FOR JUNE IS TO THE
RECORD FOR PORTLAND IS LIKE
FIVE.
FIVE.
FIVE. WE'VE HAD LONG STRETCHES OF ONE
HUNDRED DEGREE WEATHER BUT
USUALLY NOT UNTIL LATER ON IN
THE SUMMER.
THE SUMMER. SO WE ARE LIKELY TO BREAK OUR
ALL TIME RECORD HIGH
TEMPERATURE OF 107.
WE'RE ALSO LIKELY TO BREAK OUR
ALL TIME HOTTEST OVERNIGHT LOW
TEMPERATURE OF SEVENTY FOUR I'M
FORECASTING SEVENTY FIVE COME
MONDAY MORNING.
MONDAY MORNING. THAT'S HOW IT IS GOING TO BE
OVERNIGHT SO STIFLING DAYS
AND NIGHTS NO WIND IN SEVERAL
ALL TIME RECORD HIGHS ACROSS
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL BE
BROKEN WITH THIS HISTORIC HEAT
WAVE THAT'S ON THE WAY SATURDAY
ONE ZERO FIVE SUNDAY WE'RE
GOING TO GO ONE TO NINE
AND THEN MONDAY THERE'S THAT
LOW IS SEVENTY FIVE IN A HIGH
OF 107 WHICH WOULD TIE THE WILL
BY THEN BE OUR PREVIOUS ALL
TIME RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE.
SO WHY THE EXTREME HEAT WAVE?
WELL, WE'VE GOT THIS UNUSUALLY
STRONG DOME OF HOT AIR OVER US
UNUSUALLY FAR NORTH AND IT'S
VERY UNUSUAL FOR JUNE MORE
COMMON TO SEE THAT MID TO LATE
SUMMER.
SUMMER.
SUMMER. BUT EVEN THEN THIS ONE IS
FAIRLY EPIC BECAUSE IT IS SO
STRONG.
STRONG.
STRONG. >> COMING UP A LITTLE LATER,
WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE CLIMATE
CONNECTION TO OUR EXTREME
WEATHER EVENT THAT WE ARE ALL
ABOUT TO ENDURE.
>> THANK YOU, MARTIN COUNTY
HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE URGING
PEOPLE TO TAKE THIS WEATHER
FORECAST VERY SERIOUSLY.
THEY SAY NOW IS THE TIME TO
FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GO TO
STAY COOL.
STAY COOL. AS CATHERINE COOK REPORTS,
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE
DYING BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.
>> I MEAN WE KNOW THAT THERE
ARE PLENTY OF EXAMPLES RECENT
AND HISTORICAL.
AND HISTORICAL. >> MULTNOMAH COUNTY HEALTH
OFFICER DR JENNIFER VINES IS
SOUNDING THE ALARM AHEAD
OF THIS WEEKEND'S FORECASTED
RECORD BREAKING HEAT.
SHE WORRIES PEOPLE COULD DIE IF
THEY'RE NOT PREPARED FOR IT.
>> I DON'T USE THAT WORD
LIGHTLY BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
FORECAST THAT'S REALLY
SOLIDIFYING INTO THE TRIPLE
DIGITS WITH A HIGH OF ONE
HUNDRED AND SEVEN ON SUNDAY
LAST TIME I CHECKED THAT PLUS
NOT SO MUCH COOLING IN THE
EVENING SO NOT REALLY A BREAK
FOR OUR BODDIES TO RECOVER FROM
THE HEAT STARTING FRIDAY THE
COUNTY IS PLANNING TO OPEN
THREE COOLING SHELTERS FROM ONE
TO NINE P.M. THEY'RE ASKING
PEOPLE TO PLEASE MAKE NOTE
OF THEM NOW THEY ARE THE OREGON
CONVENTION CENTER IN NORTHEAST
PORTLAND, MULTNOMAH COUNTY'S
ARBER LODGE SHELTER ON NORTH
LOMBARD AND IN GRESHAM THE
SUNRISE CENTER ON ONE HUNDRED
EIGHTY NINTH AND EAST BURNSIDE
.
.
. MULTNOMAH COUNTY SHELTERS HAVE
A NO TURN AWAY POLICY.
THEY DON'T ON ANYONE SUFFERING
IN THE HEAT INCLUDING THOSE WHO
HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED.
HOWEVER THEY WILL BE CHECKING
SHELTERS FOR PROPER VENTILATION
,ENFORCING SOCIAL DISTANCING
AND MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED
PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE A BACK SEAT
FOR THESE NEXT FEW DAYS WE'RE
HE IS REALLY THE MAIN HEALTH
THREAT IN CLARK COUNTY.
COVID IS CREATING A DILEMMA
WHEN IT COMES TO COOLING
SHELTERS AND A LOT OF OUR
OF THE LOCATIONS THAT WE
NORMALLY USE FOR COOLING
CENTERS AREN'T AVAILABLE.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET CREATIVE
AND FIGURE OUT NEW OPTIONS
AND WHAT WE CAN DO.
>> ERIC FRANK WITH CLARK
REGIONAL EMERGENCY SERVICES
AGENCY PLANS TO PUT OUT A LIST
OF COOLING SHELTERS SOON.
IN THE MEANTIME, THEY'RE ASKING
THOSE WHO CAN TO OFFER BUILDING
SPACE TO MEET THE NEED.
>> BUT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR
OUR FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND BUSINESSES THAT ARE WILLING
TO STEP UP AND OPEN THEIR DOORS
AND AND HELP US OUT DURING
THESE THESE HOT DAYS AND FOR
EVERYONE THINK ABOUT YOUR PETS
AND FAMILY MEMBERS, THOSE KIDS
WELL IN ADVANCE AND SAYS DR.
VINE'S, THINK ABOUT YOUR
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND DO
WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP THEM
AND IF YOU HAVE A PLACE TO STAY
COOL OR YOU CAN GET TO A PLACE
TO BE COOL, BRING SOMEONE ELSE
WITH YOU WHO MAY NOT HAVE AN
AIR CONDITIONER, WHO MAY NOT
HAVE AN EASY WAY TO STAY COOL.
>> IT MIGHT JUST SAVE SOMEONE'S
LIFE.
LIFE.
LIFE. >>
LIFE. >> KATHERINE COOK, KGW NEWS.
EVEN IF YOU HAVE AIR
CONDITIONING, THIS HEAT WILL BE
TOUGH ON IT.
ARE MIKE BETTER CONTINUES OUR
TEAM COVERAGE WITH ADVICE TO
ENSURE YOUR AC IS WORKING AS
EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> I AM COOKING UP MY
REFRIGERANT MANIFOLD THIS WEEK
SAM
OF
OF MP
OF MP HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING IS
SPENDING MOST OF HIS WAKING
HOURS GOING HOUSE TO HOUSE IN
THE PORTLAND METRO AREA.
>> THIS HAS BEEN THE BUSIEST
START TO A SUMMER SEASON THAT I
THINK ANY OF US IN THE BACK
INDUSTRY OR MOST CONSTRUCTION
AND TRADES HAVE EXPERIENCE.
JUST HOW BUSY IS BUSY?
MURZEA SAYS HE'S GETTING
UPWARDS OF TWO HUNDRED CALLS
FOR SERVICE A DAY.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYBODY NEEDS
SOMETHING AHEAD OF THIS
IMPENDING HEAT WAVE RIGHT NOW
WE'RE BOOKING OUT BETWEEN ONE
AND TWO WEEKS.
>> BY THEN THIS HEAT WAVE MAY
HAVE PASSED.
HAVE PASSED. SO WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE
MEANTIME?
MEANTIME?
MEANTIME? MURZEA SAYS YOU CAN DO PLENTY
ON YOUR OWN STARTING AT THE
OUTDOOR AC UNIT ITSELF.
HE SAYS MAKE SURE THE COILS ARE
CLEAN.
CLEAN.
CLEAN. >>
CLEAN. >> MAKE SURE YOUR DRAINS ARE
NOT CLOGGED.
NOT CLOGGED. MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEM DOES
NOT HAVE ANYTHING IMPEDING
AIRFLOW.
AIRFLOW.
AIRFLOW. >> THEN MURZEA SAYS HEAD
INDOORS, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
CLEAN AIR FILTERS.
>> MAKE SURE ALL OF YOUR VENTS
ARE OPEN.
ARE OPEN.
ARE OPEN. MAKE SURE NO RETURN INTAKE
OPENINGS ARE BLOCKED AND THAT
THE SYSTEM JUST HAS SOMEWHERE
TO SEND THAT AIR THAT IT'S
PRODUCING, MURZEA SAYS THIS
SORT OF TLC IS CRITICAL BUT
EVEN THEN THE INSIDE OF YOUR
HOUSE MAY NOT FEEL LIKE THE
INSIDE OF AN IGLOO 71 MURZEA
SAYS AIR CONDITIONING UNITS
DESIGNED FOR OUR CLIMATE ARE
MADE TO OPERATE IN TEMPERATURES
OF 85 TO 95 DEGREES AND THOSE
HUNDRED DEGREE PLUS
TEMPERATURES YOU WILL NOTICE
THAT YOUR SYSTEM WILL LIKELY
NOT GET TO THAT SEVENTY TO
SIXTY EIGHT NUMBER YOU'RE
PROBABLY USED TO HAVING SO
YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO BE A LITTLE
BIT MORE PATIENT AND UNDERSTAND
THAT JUST THEY DON'T WORK THAT
WAY AND UNDERSTAND THAT EXPERTS
LIKE MURZEA ARE DOING THEIR
VERY BEST AT A VERY BUSY TIME.
>> IT'S VERY TOUGH, IT'S VERY
STRESSFUL DEMANDING BUT FOR US
IT'S OUR LIVELIHOOD AND IT'S
OUR CALL TO ACTION TO BE THERE
AND STEP UP AND TAKE CARE
OF OUR CLIENTS IN THEIR TIMES
OF NEED.
OF NEED.
OF NEED. >> OF COURSE AC UNITS ARE SUPER
IMPORTANT WHEN TEMPERATURES GET
AS HIGH AS WE EXPECT THEM TO
GET IN THE COMING DAYS.
BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE AIR
CONDITIONING, PACIFIC POWER
SAYS THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO KEEP
YOUR HOUSE COOL STARTING WITH
HEAT GENERATING APPLIANCES LIKE
OVENS AND DISHWASHERS USE THEM
ONLY IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
OR LATE EVENING HOURS.
ALSO CLOSE THE BLINDS
AND DRAPES IN SOUTH FACING
WINDOWS REPORTING IN SOUTHWEST
PORTLAND, I'M MIKE BENNER FOR
KGW NEWS.
KGW NEWS.
KGW NEWS. >> AND WITH AIR CONDITIONERS
RUNNING OVER TIME, OUR DOORIS
CHECKED IN WITH BOTH PJG
AND PACIFIC POWER ABOUT THE
STRAIN ON THE ELECTRICAL GRID.
>> BIG HEAT WAVE COMING.
>> ANY CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING
ENOUGH POWER SO HEAT WAVES ARE
SOMETHING THAT THE SUPER POWER
PREPARES FOR EVERY YEAR.
IT'S NOT NEW TO US SO WE'RE
READY FOR THIS.
WE AREN'T ANTICIPATING ANY
POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTION DUE
TO THE HEAT.
>> PACIFIC POWER SAYS IF IT
RUNS LOW ON ELECTRICITY IT WILL
BUY OR BORROW FROM ITS
CORPORATE COUSINS IN OTHER
STATES.
STATES.
STATES. PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC, THE
OTHER BIG POWER COMPANY FOR OUR
AREA.
AREA.
AREA. A
AREA. A SPOKESPERSON SAID THEY ARE
ALSO NOT WORRIED ABOUT RUNNING
OUT OF POWER.
THE FORECAST IS ALSO CAUSING
SOME BUSINESSES AND EVENTS TO
CHANGE PLANS FOR THE WEKEND YOU
CAN READ MORE ABOUT THAT IN ALL
OF OUR HEAT WAVE COVERAGE
RIGHT NOW ON KGW DOTCOM.
>> THERE'S AN UPDATE TONIGHT
FROM OREGON'S GOVERNOR ON COVID
RISK LEVELS THIS WEEK WILL BE
THE LAST TIME THAT COUNTIES ARE
MOVED UP OR DOWN TO DIFFERENT
RISK CATEGORIES AND THAT'S
BECAUSE THE STATE IS SO CLOSE
TO 70 PERCENT VACCINATION GOAL
THEN THOSE RISK LEVEL
RESTRCTIONS WILL BE DROPPED
ALTOGETHER.
ALTOGETHER. HERE'S WHERE COUNTIES WILL
STAND STARTING ON FRIDAY.
THE BIG CHANGES LOCALLY COME IN
POLK COUNTY WHERE THEY HAVE
REACHED THEIR VACCINATION GOAL
AND CAN NOW MOVE TO LOWER RISK
AND MARION COUNTY IS MOVING
DOWN TO MODERATE RISK.
THE STATE IS NOW JUST THIRTY
EIGHT THOUSAND PEOPLE AWAY FROM
MEETING A VACCINATION GOAL.
WE'RE AT SIXTY EIGHT POINT NINE
PERCENT RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO 70
PERCENT BUT THE RATE OF NEW
PEOPLE GETTING SHOTS HAS SLOWED
DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY SO IT COULD
TAKE A COUPLE MORE WEEKS TO GET
THERE PORTLANDER LATEST
SHOOTING HAPPENED JUST BEFORE
EIGHT O'CLOCK TONIGHT.
IT ALSO INVOLVED THIS CRASH ON
S-E ONE HUNDRED TWENTY SECOND
AVENUE AT BURNSIDE'S.
ONE MAN IS HURT AND ONE PERSON
HAS BEEN ARRESTED.
LAST NIGHT ON THE STORY WE TOOK
AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE CAUSES
AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO
PORTLANDIS GUN VIOLENCE.
BUT WE'RE NOT ALONE IN FACING
THE PROBLEM.
THE PROBLEM. IN FACT, IT'S SUCH A WIDE
SPREAD ISSUE THE PRESIDENT
FOCUSED ON IT IN AN ADDRESS TO
THE NATION TODAY.
DAN HAGGERTY HAS MORE ON THAT
AND HOW PORTLANDER COMPARES TO
THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.
>> WELL, DEENA TWEETED SAYING
I'M HOPING THAT YOUR SPECIAL
COVERAGE ON PORTLANDER GUN
VIOLENCE WILL INCLUDE A
COMPARISON TO OTHER MAJOR
CITIES.
CITIES.
CITIES. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SEE HOW
MUCH OF THIS IS PART OF A
NATIONAL TREND AND HOW MUCH IS
LOCAL.
LOCAL.
LOCAL. SO
LOCAL. SO LET'S LOOK SOME OF THE
NUMBERS FROM POLICE DEPARTMENTS
IN MORE THAN 60 MAJOR CITIES.
THIS SHOWS THE NUMBER
OF HOMICIDES IN EACH CITY IN
TWENTY TWENTY COMPARED TO
TWENTY NINETEEN.
TWENTY NINETEEN. IF THE NUMBER IS RED THAT MEANS
HOMICIDE INCREASED AND YOU CAN
SEE A LOT OF RED ON THIS CHART
NOW NOT ALL HOMICIDES ARE
SHOOTINGS OF COURSE, BUT THIS
STILL GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF HOW
THE TREND IS GOING AND HOW
THINGS ARE INCREASING.
NOW LET'S LOOK AT AGGREVATED
ASSAULTS IN THOSE SAME CITIES
BETWEEN TWENTY NINETEEN
AND TWENTY TWENTY AGAIN YOU CAN
SEE A LOT OF RED NUMBERS THERE
WHICH MEANS ASSAULTS WENT UP IN
ALMOST ALL OF THESE CITIES.
THESE AREN'T NECESSARILY
SHOOTINGS EITHER.
SHOOTINGS EITHER. WE ALSO CHECKED OUT THE DATA
FROM THE FIRST PART OF THIS
YEAR AND MURDERS AND ASSAULTS
ARE UP IN THE MAJORITY OF THOSE
CITIES COMPARED TO THE FIRST
PART OF LAST YEAR.
NOW IF YOU NEED MORE EVIDENCE
THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS A
NATIONWIDE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW,
PRESIDENT BIDEN ACTUALLY GAVE A
SPEECH ON IT WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON.
AFTERNOON. HE ANNOUNCED A MAJOR CRACKDOWN
ON GUNS USED IN VIOLENT CRIME
BY HOLDING ILLEGAL GUN DEALERS
ACCOUNTABLE AND HE PLEDGED MORE
SUPPORT TO LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
ENFORCEMENT. HE ALSO CALLED ON CONGRESS TO
PASS GUN VIOLENCE LEGISLATION
LIKE BACKGROUND CHECKS, AN
ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN
AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT.
BIDEN ALSO SPOKE ABOUT
ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES
OF GUN VIOLENCE BY INCREASING
SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITIES
HIT HARDEST BY WHAT HE'S
CALLING A SECOND PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS PRESIDENT.
CRISIS PRESIDENT. >> WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS THE MOST
EFFECTIVE THING THAT THE
GOVERNMENT CAN DO TO CHANGE THE
MINDSET OF THOSE WHO FEEL
COMPELLED TO PULL THE TRIGGERS
OF THESE GUNS BY BEING ENGAGED
IN A WHOLE RANGE OF PROGRAMS?
WE TALKED TODAY EVERYTHING FROM
MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS TO
ENGAGING PEOPLE EARLY ON
AND LETTING THEM KNOW THERE'S
OTHER OPTIONS MAKING SURE THAT
WHEN A CHILD IS YOUNG THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO REAL EDUCATION.
THEY GET STARTED OFF ON THE
RIGHT FOOT MAKING SURE WHEN
SOMEONE GETS OUT OF PRISON
THEY'RE NOT DENIED PUBLIC
HOUSING, THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO
BACK UNDER THE BRIDGE WHERE
THEY LIVE AND BEFORE THAT
THEY'RE ABLE TO GET HELP FOR
HEALTH CARE, ET CETERA
AND REENGAGE THEM IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD GIVING THEM SOME
HOPE, SOME OPPORTUNITY.
AND IN THE MEANTIME MAKING SURE
THAT THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THEM BY TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THEIR SITUATION
ARE IN FACT HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
>> WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT
OF THESE FACTORS AND POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS ON OUR SPECIAL
UNDERSTANDING GUN