The last year and a half brought our agency – and emergency management as a whole – to the forefront in a way none of us could have anticipated. The 2021 Legislative session clearly demonstrated the Governor’s and Legislature’s support of OEM and the work we do. House Bill (HB) 2927 renames the Office of Emergency Management as the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to establish a cabinet-level department independent from the Oregon Military Department (OMD) that will report directly to the governor. The transition timeline began July 1, 2021, and becomes operative on July 1, 2022.

The transition of OEM to a stand-alone state agency is an opportunity to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. Just as the discipline of emergency management and the hazards we face are evolving, we must adapt how we approach and conduct our work to achieve positive, equitable outcomes. Every Oregonian deserves to live in a community where hazards are understood and communicated, risk reduction is a shared and supported responsibility, and emergency services are accessible to all, regardless of language or disability. The expanded capabilities afforded in concert with this transition will allow ODEM to work proactively in developing emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to meet the needs of a changing landscape, with resources not previously available.

As we work toward building this new department, I look forward to opportunities to engage with our incredible team here at OEM to create an organization reflective of our values, our mission and the expectations of those we serve. I hope to engage and collaborate with our partners – as well as build and strengthen new partnerships – throughout this process to ensure Oregon’s first-ever Department of Emergency Management is best positioned to work across disciplines, organizational charts and levels of governments. Our vision is to create an established, equitable culture of preparedness that empowers Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. 

OEM looks different than it did a year ago, and it will look different a year from now. I’m incredibly excited to be on this journey with all our emergency management partners and look forward to what we will create in the months leading up to July 1, 2022.  

October is Fire Prevention Month, and this year's theme is knowing the sounds of your smoke alarm. The Office of the State Fire Marshal has designed an education campaign around smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and what the public should do when they hear each sound. The agency has developed a social media toolkit, available in six languages, to reach as many Oregonians as possible. Each week throughout the month, OSFM will share themed messages to teach people what their alarms are saying, using the hashtag #KnowYourBeepingAlarm. Follow the agency on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The Office of Cultural Change is hosting "Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope,” an event to celebrate State of Oregon Hispanic employees and their heritage. Join the virtual celebration from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 

OEM radio communications annually supports and participates in the Boy Scouts of America Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, which takes place the third full weekend in October. JOTA engages scouts in amateur radio and gives them a chance to communicate with other scouts from around the country and the world. The event also coincides with Swaptoberfest, the Mid-Valley Amateur Radio Emergency Services Emergency Service Volunteer Fair and Ham Radio Swap Meet. OEM provides its communications trailer and OEM amateur radio volunteers work with local scouts to get them on the air. This year’s Swaptoberfest will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 16 at the Polk County Fairgrounds in Rickreall.