Coronavirus and Wildfire Update: Taking Care of Your Mental Health

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House Speaker Tina Kotek

Coronavirus and Wildfire Update: Taking Care of Your Mental Health

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Many of us can’t wait for 2020 to be over. It’s been rough and has tested each of us in one way or another. For too many people, it’s been absolutely devastating and traumatizing.

I always try to look at the bright side of things, but these days that can be very challenging. Please know that it’s completely understandable if you’re struggling and need somewhere to turn for support. Anxiety, fear, depression, loss of sleep, and other symptoms are common in dealing with the daily stresses that life can bring, and this year has brought on more of those stresses than ever.

You are not alone and there are people who can help. Below are some suggestions if you or someone you know is going through a particularly tough time:

  • The Oregon Behavioral Health Support Line is a free and confidential resource for all Oregonians who are looking for emotional support. Call 1-800-923-HELP (4357). You do not need to be in a mental health crisis to call this line. If you need or want help beyond what the line can provide, you will be connected to those services. This can include community-based services such as housing, food assistance or clinical services. Certified interpreters are also available for those who speak a language other than English. Through this number, you can also connect with Lines for Life (linesforlife.org), a suicide prevention organization with specific resources for youth, military personnel and their families, and those affected by substance abuse problems.
  • SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to speak to a trained crisis counselor.
  • Call 211 or visit 211info.org to connect with health and social service organizations. These include child care resources, utility assistance, food resources, housing and shelter information and more.
  • OHA also has contacts for crisis services by county on its website here.
  • To stay informed about wildfires and learn about resources across the state, go to wildfire.oregon.gov

Here are area mental crisis lines to consider:

  • Multnomah County: 503-988-4888
  • Clackamas County 503-655-8585
  • Washington County 503-291-9111

Take care and be safe.


Red Cross and FEMA Support for Fire Evacuees

Below is an updated list of where the Red Cross and community partners are providing support in Oregon. Anyone impacted by the wildfires and in need of support can go directly to the closest location or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

  • Oregon Convention Center: 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland
  • Deschutes County Fairgrounds: 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond
  • Oregon State Fairgrounds: 2330 17th St NE, Salem
  • Churchill High School: 1850 Bailey Hill Rd, Eugene
  • Douglas County Fairgrounds: 2110 Frear St, Roseburg
  • Josephine County Fairgrounds: 1451 Fairgrounds Rd, Grants Pass
  • Lake County Fairgrounds: 1900 N 4th St, Lakeview
  • Jackson County Expo: 1 Peninger Rd, Central Point
  • Elks Lodge #142: 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Milwaukie
  • Clackamas Town Center: 12000 SE 82nd Ave, Happy Valley
  • 7th Day Adventist: 8378 Cason Rd, Gladstone
  • St. Paul Rodeo Grounds: 20025 4th St NE #9612, St. Paul
  • Volcano Stadium: 6700 Field of Dreams Way NE, Keizer
  • Benton County Event Center: 110 SW 53rd St, Corvallis
  • Linn County Expo Center: 3700 Knox Butte Rd E, Albany

Additionally, Oregonians impacted by the fires in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn and Marion counties can register with FEMA to apply for assistance by calling 800-621-3362 or going to this link: http://DisasterAssistance.gov


Animal Rescue

If you have lost a pet or livestock during the fires, the Oregon Department of Agriculture has staff members in constant contact with fairgrounds across the state assessing capacity and offering help in coordinating resources such as hay, feed, and veterinary services. The agency has a database here where you can see if a lost animal has been found.


OHP Members: Lost Prescriptions and Medical Equipment

If you have health insurance under the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) and had to leave home quickly due to nearby wildfires and may have left behind important medical equipment or prescriptions, there is a way to get those items replaced.

If you have any trouble replacing things like medical equipment, supplies or prescriptions, your coordinated care organization (CCO) can help. You can find your CCO contact information here: http://ow.ly/jprH50BoEAi. If you’re an OHP member with an open card, contact Member Services at: 800-273-0557.


COVID-19 Temporary Paid Leave Program

When you feel sick and think you have the coronavirus, it’s important to isolate yourself from others as soon as possible. This can be hard if your work involves being around other people.

To help out, the Legislative Emergency Board allocated $30 million in federal funds to establish the COVID-19 Temporary Paid Leave Program. I’m glad to say the program is now accepting applications.

The program is designed to help employees who need to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 exposure, but do not have access to COVID-19-related paid sick leave. People who qualify will receive a $120 per-day payment for up to 10 working days ($1,200 total) for the time they are required to quarantine.

Oregonians can now apply online at www.oregon.gov/covidpaidleave. The application is available in English, Spanish, and Russian. Those who do not have access to the electronic application or need help applying can call 833-685-0850 (toll-free) or 503-947-0130. Those who need help in a language other than the three above can call 503-947-0130. The call center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The program website also has FAQs and an eligibility quiz where employees can check eligibility for the program before applying. To qualify for the program, an individual must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Work in Oregon and required to file an Oregon personal income tax return.
  • Directed to quarantine by a local or tribal public health authority or health care provider because of exposure to someone infected or self-isolating because they have COVID-19-related symptoms and are seeking a medical diagnosis.
  • Not able to work (including telework) because they need to quarantine or isolate.
  • Do not expect to earn more than $60,000 individually or $120,000 jointly in 2020.
  • Their employer does not provide COVID-19-related paid sick leave or they have exhausted their available COVID-19-related paid sick leave.
  • Are not applying for or receiving unemployment insurance benefits for the time off due to quarantine or isolation.
  • Are not applying for or receiving workers’ compensation claim benefits due to quarantine or isolation.
  • Are not seeking or using benefits from similar COVID-19 quarantine relief programs in Oregon or another state.
  • Are not applying for or receiving other forms of paid leave from their employer during their quarantine or isolation, such as banked sick leave or vacation leave.
  • Are not laid off or furloughed by their employer.
  • Must have notified their employer that they need to quarantine or isolate.
  • Can claim only one quarantine period.

Because the funds for the program are limited, the assistance is available only to quarantine periods that were in place on or after September 16, 2020.


The Latest News

  • The City of Portland has opened a new round of relief grants for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, as The Oregonian reports here. The link to apply and learn about eligibility requirements is available here.
  • The Oregon Health Authority reported 195 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the statewide total of new and presumptive cases to 29,850. Sadly, two more people have died, meaning there have been 521 Oregonians to die of the coronavirus. You can click the images below for links to interactive data tables about coronavirus in Oregon.

OHA COVID-19 Update 091620

OHA COVID-19 Epi Curve 091620

OHA COVID-19 County Map 091620

To read past newsletters, you can go to this link. For up to date information, please check this link to the Oregon Health Authority where regular updates are posted: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ERD/Pages/News-Releases.aspx

Please email me at Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov if you have specific concerns that have not been addressed by the OHA. Our office will do all we can to help and protect all Oregonians.

Thank you for reading! We will get through this together.

Best,

Tina

Tina Kotek

State Representative
House District 44
Speaker of the House

email: Rep.TinaKotek@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1200
address: 900 Court St NE, H-269, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/kotek