Outreach teams for the homeless have taken on a sort of "militarized" response to the current heat wave, having learned from the deadly 2021 heat dome and wildfires.

"It was really us looking and recognizing we've typically done a good job of responding to emergencies … but we recognized we play a vital role in connecting the unsheltered population with services. And so we created our own emergency management department," said Robert Marshall, program coordinator for ARCHES.

By noon on Tuesday, more than 100 people had stopped by the ARCHES's day center in downtown Salem, looking for relief from the heat wave that prompted Oregon Gov. Kate Brown to declare a state of emergency the same day. Earlier this month, the average was 115 unique guests per day. On Monday, there were 185 guests. By 4 p.m. Tuesday, 200 people had visited.

The day center is one of several locations that have extended their hours to provide cooling to residents, especially those most vulnerable to the heat. Eight employees were at the location, checking people in, providing water and meals, and company. Eight others were expected to be out past 7 p.m., mobilized as emergency outreach teams to provide support to anyone unable to make it to 615 Commercial St.

Maggy Johnston, outreach coordinator, and Cynthia Berry, program coordinator, were the "A-Team" on Tuesday.

They began their day at Geer Park at 10 a.m. Johnston already had delivered supplies on the first day of the heat wave, Sunday. There had been at least 10 unhoused people at the park that day. On Tuesday there were three.

"This heat is terrible," said Laurie Schaven, who had been camping at Geer Park for about a month. By her side was Sammy, a small white dog she has had for 13 years. Before Geer, Schaven had stayedat Cascades Gateway Park. She said she moved after being attacked and robbed of her money.

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She was emotional when Johnston asked how she was doing.

"I'm just embarrassed," Schaven said. "I shouldn't be out here."

She is on a waiting list for housing. Schaven said she was told it could take at least two years. She toldJohnston and Berry that she has an interview for a new job in a week. Before they move on, Berry made plans to get her a shower and new clothes before the interview. They also gave her bottles of water and filled a container with Gatorade. Sammy got an extra bottle of water, too.

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Tesla Burr is in a tent a few feet away. She's been unhoused since February and at Geer for three weeks. Monday night was tough, Burr said. It was hot and mosquitos swarmed inside her tent. She swatted several off her legs Tuesday while she tried to stay in the shade.

The cooling shelters are not helpful for her, Burr said.

"They're hard to get there and too full," she said.

By 11:30 a.m., Johnston and Berry had emptied their trunk, which had two large jugs of water, a jug of Gatorade, a box of MREs and cases of bottled water. They drove to small encampments where they've built relationships and make sudden stops to check in with anyone walking by to double-check if they need water, too.

"Homeless or not homeless, we're giving water," Berry said. They spot people inside their vehicles. Another woman sits under the shade at a picnic table. Johnston makes an emergency call to volunteer nurses after connecting with a woman who is wheezing in a wheelchair.

The team connected with more than 90 people at Wallace on Monday. Another outreach team assisted more than 50 in Woodburn. Team C connected with another 55 at Lancaster.

"We started yesterday at 11 and we stopped at 7:30 and up to 7, it was still 100 degrees," Berry said. By noon when the team went to the tents, half the people weren't there, having dispersed trying to find cooler spots. That's why they started at 10 a.m.Tuesday, she said.

Marshall said emergency responses are up to the state, city and county but even the smallest temperature change constitutes an emergency for the unsheltered. ARCHES will be ready, he said, even if something doesn't constitute a city-wide emergency response.

"Us having an emergency management department that is trained and ready to respond to any climate, environmental or manmade hazard that can occur means we can respond effectively and appropriately to them," Marshall said.

Dianne Lugo covers equity and social justice issues for the Statesman Journal. Reach her at dlugo@gannett.com or on Twitter @DianneLugo