Oregon Health Authority

Emergency Messages as of 4:02 PM, Thu. Oct 22

No information currently posted.

Subscribe to receive FlashAlert messages from Oregon Health Authority.

Manage my existing Subscription

News Release

As Climate Hazards Increase, Oregon Communities Fight Back - 10/22/26

October 22, 2026

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

As climate hazards increase, Oregon communities fight back

OHA’s annual Climate and Health report shows extreme heat, wildfire smoke, drought are continuing burdens, but local projects are building resilience

PORTLAND, Ore.—Climate hazards are happening with more frequency in Oregon, with more days of extreme heat and wildfire smoke—and, in many areas, combinations of both—than 20 years ago, a new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) report shows.

But communities are fighting back with projects to mitigate the effects on human health, according to the OHA Public Health Division’s Climate and Health in Oregon report for 2025. These efforts are building resilience against worsening climate-related threats that can cause serious illnesses and death.

For example, Marion County is working with local partners to lower energy costs for older adults through home energy assessments and connect residents with contractors to install heat pumps and home weatherization. Jackson and Josephine counties and partners hosted a health fair in 2025 so more than 800 residents could learn about wildfire smoke risks and preparedness strategies.

“This year’s Climate and Health in Oregon report demonstrates that extreme climate effects continue to be a reality of our daily lives in Oregon,” said Public Health Division Director Naomi Adeline-Biggs. “We must continue supporting communities as they identify new, innovative, equitable approaches to adapting to these hazards and limiting health risks.”

Stark findings

Among the report’s starkest findings: between 2006 and 2025, the estimated number of days with extreme heat nearly doubled; wildfire smoke days tripled; and days with heat and smoke more than quadrupled. Rural counties in eastern, central and southern Oregon were hit hardest, racking up the highest number of extreme heat days, and rural southern and central counties with the highest total days with smoke.

However, wildfire smoke days increased fastest in Oregon’s biggest population centers. Even though Multnomah and Washington counties experience less smoke than other areas, the amount of wildfire‑related particulate matter in the air is now rising on average more quickly in these heavily populated areas than in other parts of the state.

In addition, the state experienced multiple drought periods, with widespread drought in 2015. In 2021, extreme drought affected half the state.

Damaging effects

The effects across Oregon have been damaging, the report shows.

From 2016 to 2025, hospital emergency departments saw spikes in visits for heat-related illnesses and smoke-related, non-infectious respiratory illnesses. Southern, central and eastern Oregon experienced some of the highest annual heat-related illness visit rates from 2016 to 2025. Although regions in western Oregon experienced lower annual heat related illness rates overall, all regions experienced increases during periods of extreme heat.

The report highlights impacts that extend beyond extreme heat and wildfires:

  • Youth mental health: In 2025, results from the 2024 Oregon Student Health Survey showed 71% of Oregon 11th-graders reported experiencing stress about the future due to climate change, and 37% said these feelings negatively affected their lives.
  • Harmful algae blooms: In 2025, OHA investigated 51 suspected harmful algae bloom events, issued 20 freshwater recreational use health advisories, and detected microcystin and saxitoxin levels that exceeded recreational use values.
  • Mosquito-borne disease risk: In 2024 and 2025, routine mosquito surveillance identified Aedes aegypti in Jackson County, a mosquito species predominantly found in tropical and subtropical areas and the primary vector for diseases like dengue and Zika. This species of mosquito had not previously been detected in Oregon.

Communities are adapting

Like Marion, Jackson, and Josephine counties, agencies and organizations are finding new ways to help their communities adapt to climate change.

The Center for African Health and Education, a Portland-based, East African-led organization, used an OHA Public Health Equity grant to hold monthly workshops for the African refugee and immigrant communities on heat, air quality and wildfire smoke safety. It also created a messaging group so people could stay connected and get climate and health-related updates.

Latino Network, an organization focused on culturally specific practices and services, used a Public Health Equity grant to host its annual Conoce tu río, conoce tu comida: Know your river, know your food workshop. Participants exchanged cultural stories, learned about environmental health risks, and discussed ways to protect water and fishing tradition.

Carolina Hernandez, workforce development manager in Latino Network’s Department of Health and Wellness, said culturally specific climate adaptation is critical. “People share the stories of when they were in their counties of origin and how they went to the rivers, how they cook, how they spent days with the entire family sharing their lives and fishing ... We try to give space to the communities so they can do the same here.”

Another climate adaptation project involved OHA’s Youth Advisory Council, a group of 15- to 19-year-olds from across Oregon who provide input on health policies and initiatives related to well-being. Members of the council’s youth data subcommittee analyzed results from the 2024 Student Health Survey to find out how climate change is affecting youth.

Among the findings: stress arises from youth feeling climate change is out of their control and teaching lacks actionable steps or youth-led examples; Latinx, Middle Eastern, North African and Asian youth and those who identify as gender diverse or non-binary reported disproportionate mental health impacts of climate change; and students need mental health support from school counselors and other trusted adults who are knowledgeable about climate change.

“Students were saying the more you understand climate change, the more anxious or stressed you might feel,” said Andres Pineda, who attends Portland State University. “The issue is that students felt like there're not enough resources or different programs available to actually make a difference with climate change, to actually do something about it.”

Olivia Sun, a student at Jesuit High School in Beaverton, said the analysis shows youth are eager to help address climate hazards. “Just an opportunity for youth to be able to learn about it, an opportunity for youth to be able to feel like they're part of the solution,” she said, “would be great in resolving some of the anxiety and helplessness youth feel about climate change.”

Oregon and its partners are taking additional steps to adapt to climate threats. Investments in modernizing the state’s public health system help OHA, the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon, local public health authorities and community-based organizations implement programs and policies focused on preparing and responding to more frequent and severe hazards.

Healthy Homes Grant Program funding helped local organizations make home upgrades that reduce health and safety risks, improve indoor conditions and create healthier living environments for low-income individuals and historically underserved communities.

For more information, visit www.healthoregon.org/climate.

As Climate Hazards Increase, Oregon Communities Fight Back - 10/22/26

October 22, 2026

Media contact: Jonathan Modie, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov

As climate hazards increase, Oregon communities fight back

OHA’s annual Climate and Health report shows extreme heat, wildfire smoke, drought are continuing burdens, but local projects are building resilience

PORTLAND, Ore.—Climate hazards are happening with more frequency in Oregon, with more days of extreme heat and wildfire smoke—and, in many areas, combinations of both—than 20 years ago, a new Oregon Health Authority (OHA) report shows.

But communities are fighting back with projects to mitigate the effects on human health, according to the OHA Public Health Division’s Climate and Health in Oregon report for 2025. These efforts are building resilience against worsening climate-related threats that can cause serious illnesses and death.

For example, Marion County is working with local partners to lower energy costs for older adults through home energy assessments and connect residents with contractors to install heat pumps and home weatherization. Jackson and Josephine counties and partners hosted a health fair in 2025 so more than 800 residents could learn about wildfire smoke risks and preparedness strategies.

“This year’s Climate and Health in Oregon report demonstrates that extreme climate effects continue to be a reality of our daily lives in Oregon,” said Public Health Division Director Naomi Adeline-Biggs. “We must continue supporting communities as they identify new, innovative, equitable approaches to adapting to these hazards and limiting health risks.”

Stark findings

Among the report’s starkest findings: between 2006 and 2025, the estimated number of days with extreme heat nearly doubled; wildfire smoke days tripled; and days with heat and smoke more than quadrupled. Rural counties in eastern, central and southern Oregon were hit hardest, racking up the highest number of extreme heat days, and rural southern and central counties with the highest total days with smoke.

However, wildfire smoke days increased fastest in Oregon’s biggest population centers. Even though Multnomah and Washington counties experience less smoke than other areas, the amount of wildfire‑related particulate matter in the air is now rising on average more quickly in these heavily populated areas than in other parts of the state.

In addition, the state experienced multiple drought periods, with widespread drought in 2015. In 2021, extreme drought affected half the state.

Damaging effects

The effects across Oregon have been damaging, the report shows.

From 2016 to 2025, hospital emergency departments saw spikes in visits for heat-related illnesses and smoke-related, non-infectious respiratory illnesses. Southern, central and eastern Oregon experienced some of the highest annual heat-related illness visit rates from 2016 to 2025. Although regions in western Oregon experienced lower annual heat related illness rates overall, all regions experienced increases during periods of extreme heat.

The report highlights impacts that extend beyond extreme heat and wildfires:

  • Youth mental health: In 2025, results from the 2024 Oregon Student Health Survey showed 71% of Oregon 11th-graders reported experiencing stress about the future due to climate change, and 37% said these feelings negatively affected their lives.
  • Harmful algae blooms: In 2025, OHA investigated 51 suspected harmful algae bloom events, issued 20 freshwater recreational use health advisories, and detected microcystin and saxitoxin levels that exceeded recreational use values.
  • Mosquito-borne disease risk: In 2024 and 2025, routine mosquito surveillance identified Aedes aegypti in Jackson County, a mosquito species predominantly found in tropical and subtropical areas and the primary vector for diseases like dengue and Zika. This species of mosquito had not previously been detected in Oregon.

Communities are adapting

Like Marion, Jackson, and Josephine counties, agencies and organizations are finding new ways to help their communities adapt to climate change.

The Center for African Health and Education, a Portland-based, East African-led organization, used an OHA Public Health Equity grant to hold monthly workshops for the African refugee and immigrant communities on heat, air quality and wildfire smoke safety. It also created a messaging group so people could stay connected and get climate and health-related updates.

Latino Network, an organization focused on culturally specific practices and services, used a Public Health Equity grant to host its annual Conoce tu río, conoce tu comida: Know your river, know your food workshop. Participants exchanged cultural stories, learned about environmental health risks, and discussed ways to protect water and fishing tradition.

Carolina Hernandez, workforce development manager in Latino Network’s Department of Health and Wellness, said culturally specific climate adaptation is critical. “People share the stories of when they were in their counties of origin and how they went to the rivers, how they cook, how they spent days with the entire family sharing their lives and fishing ... We try to give space to the communities so they can do the same here.”

Another climate adaptation project involved OHA’s Youth Advisory Council, a group of 15- to 19-year-olds from across Oregon who provide input on health policies and initiatives related to well-being. Members of the council’s youth data subcommittee analyzed results from the 2024 Student Health Survey to find out how climate change is affecting youth.

Among the findings: stress arises from youth feeling climate change is out of their control and teaching lacks actionable steps or youth-led examples; Latinx, Middle Eastern, North African and Asian youth and those who identify as gender diverse or non-binary reported disproportionate mental health impacts of climate change; and students need mental health support from school counselors and other trusted adults who are knowledgeable about climate change.

“Students were saying the more you understand climate change, the more anxious or stressed you might feel,” said Andres Pineda, who attends Portland State University. “The issue is that students felt like there're not enough resources or different programs available to actually make a difference with climate change, to actually do something about it.”

Olivia Sun, a student at Jesuit High School in Beaverton, said the analysis shows youth are eager to help address climate hazards. “Just an opportunity for youth to be able to learn about it, an opportunity for youth to be able to feel like they're part of the solution,” she said, “would be great in resolving some of the anxiety and helplessness youth feel about climate change.”

Oregon and its partners are taking additional steps to adapt to climate threats. Investments in modernizing the state’s public health system help OHA, the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon, local public health authorities and community-based organizations implement programs and policies focused on preparing and responding to more frequent and severe hazards.

Healthy Homes Grant Program funding helped local organizations make home upgrades that reduce health and safety risks, improve indoor conditions and create healthier living environments for low-income individuals and historically underserved communities.

For more information, visit www.healthoregon.org/climate.