Colleagues,

As I am sure you are aware, forecasters say that we may have our first really warm weather of the year this Saturday through Monday. We could see 2 or 3 days where temperatures exceed 85 degrees, which may not be a big deal for those of us with shelter, but may be a challenge for our unhoused neighbors. With this in mind, members of the Coalition Steering Committee have reached out to the City of Tacoma and Pierce County to ask about hot weather resources that will be available over the weekend.

The City of Tacoma will make water available to outreach workers and volunteers beginning Thursday morning. Pierce County plans to follow the guidelines of the Pierce County Department of Emergency management, which requires a forecast with 3 consecutive days with temperatures above 90 degrees. At this time it doesn’t appear that this weekend will be that hot. However, water will be available for those doing outreach outside the City of Tacoma, with a pallet of water at the Salvation Army in Puyallup and additional water being available at St. Vincent DePaul in the south end of Tacoma.

You can follow the latest updates about the weekend weather and details about where volunteers and outreach workers can get extra water for distribution on the following web page: www.craft.do/s/f0GVFmAubX8YUg.

Here is the information that we currently have regarding resources for this weekend:

Water:

For use inside the Tacoma city limits: Can be obtained at the Stability Site (near Puyallup Ave. and Portland Ave.) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on June 23-27. Must sign in to pick up water. Limit of 4 cases per outreach worker. Point of contact: Caleb Carbone at 253-591-5015
Greater Pierce County area: Visit Puyallup Savlation Army (4009 9th St. SW, Puyallup) before 5 p.m. on Friday, June 24. Point of contact: Diane Warbus at 253-316-2254
West Pierce County: St. Vincent DePaul (4009 S. 56th St., Tacoma) available Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Point of contact: Dionne Jacobson at 253-307-2099

Information:

Tacoma Pierce County Health Department Excessive Heat Resources document.

Thank you in advance to everyone who will reach out to our unhoused neighbors with cold water this weekend! We will discuss this topic further during this Friday’s regular meeting of the Coalition. And please email me if there is additional information that should be added to this basic informational web page for this weekend’s weather event. The page will disappear when the hot weather has passed.