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Director's Message
Later this week, we will come together with family and friends to express our gratitude. Every day, I’m thankful for the emergency management community in our state. Over the past two years, nearly all of you have taken actions that have saved lives, protected property and helped your county navigate an evolving hazard landscape. One person in particular has embodied what it means to be an emergency manager, serving with grace, compassion, intelligence and humility. It is my honor to share that the Oregon Emergency Management Association, in partnership with OEM, has named Patence Winningham as Emergency Manager Professional of the Year!
Patence assumed the role of Lane County Emergency Manager in February 2019 after having served the City of Eugene as an emergency management specialist for over a decade. Within days, she was faced with a historic winter storm that left thousands stranded in eastern Lane County, including hundreds stuck on an Amtrak train. Patence rose to the occasion, leading her county’s response and communicating with the State Emergency Coordination Center. Her request for an OEM liaison in response to what would become a federal disaster helped lay the foundation for future field deployments of OEM staff and helped chart the course for what would become the new statewide Preparedness and Response liaison program at OEM.
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Patence continued to be tested with another federal disaster declaration due to flooding in April 2019. This was followed by the COVID disaster in early 2020. She worked with the county to engage FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers to establish a 42-bed COVID recovery center designed to take care of some of the most vulnerable people in Lane County, displaying the kind of empathy that should be the North Star for all emergency managers. 2020 was a difficult year for all of us in emergency management, but for Patence, a challenging year would become exceedingly more difficult as 2020 wore on.
On Labor Day, 2020, dozens of devastating fires broke out in our state, including the Holiday Farm Fire in Lane County. I’ll never forget, on one of our statewide wildfire coordination calls, Patence was briefing the situation in her county with her usual professionalism, confidence and clarity, when she paused, and directed a brief comment to the State Fire Marshal who was also on the call. She said her daughter was deployed on a fire in another part of the state and asked that the fire marshal “take care of her,” then ended her briefing. Patence’s own home was threatened by the fire, but she put the needs of her community above her own.
Patence continues to take an active role in the ongoing COVID response and guiding her county through recovery from the many disasters she has faced in her young career. Patence is an innovator, a communicator, a problem-solver and a collaborator. She is also a tireless activist in her county for disaster preparedness, hazard mitigation, and other initiatives to reduce risk in her community. Please join me in congratulating Patence on this well-deserved award.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday; take care of yourselves, and take care of each other.
Andrew Phelps, Director, Oregon Office of Emergency Management
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Clackamas Community College offers EMP degree program
Clackamas Community College has launched an Emergency Management Professional degree program designed to provide meaningful learning opportunities for current emergency management professionals and foundational skills for those just getting started. The winter term will offer EMP-201 Introduction to Homeland Security and Emergency Management; EMP-202 Threat and Hazard Assessment for Emergency Management Professionals; and EMP-204 Foundations of Emergency Planning. Winter term runs Jan. 3 to March 19, 2022. Courses are held on Zoom.
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OMSI seeks input on earthquake materials
The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry is looking for community members aged 18 or older who live in Oregon, Washington or California to help evaluate an educational video on earthquakes. In a 30-minute Zoom call, participants will have the opportunity to watch the five-minute video and provide feedback. As compensation, participants will receive a $20 Amazon gift card. To schedule an appointment, sign up at calendly.com (English and Spanish). No time for Zoom? Provide feedback by completing a short online survey.
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Winter safety toolkit
The National Weather Service has developed a winter safety toolkit featuring social media messages and infographics in English and Spanish for a wide variety of winter weather topics, including winter driving, power outages, floods, avalanches, winterizing the home and more. There are also videos and presentations available to help prepare a weather-ready nation.
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OEM DEI outreach
The Office of Emergency Management is currently running a preparedness outreach campaign for the BIPOC community through Univision (KUNP). Univision is Oregon's most-watched and farthest-reaching Spanish-language TV station. The campaign urges individual and community preparedness and outlines steps to take to be ready and prevent further loss when the next emergency happens. Click the image to view the :60 spot.
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GIS presentation
GIS Day occurred on Nov. 17, and OEM GIS Program Coordinator Daniel Stoelb delivered a presentation on success stories and visuals using GIS at OEM. For those who were unable to attend, you can view it on YouTube; you can also follow the interactive presentation at arcg.is.
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Older phones may cease operating in 2022
The National Association of State 911 Administrators is issuing a warning to consumers that older phones may stop working in early 2022 due to the retirement of 3G networks and support for phones and other devices using 3G service. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have each announced that they plan on discontinuing 3G service in favor of 4G (LTE) and 5G service next year and will notify users of their services. However, users of older phones used solely to call 9-1-1 may not be notified if they do not have active service with the provider; this could include clients of organizations for the homeless or domestic violence shelters. Low-income individuals who are concerned that their 9-1-1 only phones may no longer be supported should consider applying for service through the federal Lifeline Program.
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Oregon Forest Resources Institute releases wildfire report
The Oregon Forest Resources Institute has published a report titled, Living with Fire, that focuses on solutions to address the growing threat of wildfire in Oregon due to factors such as climate change, overgrown forests and an increasing number of Oregonians living close to forests and other wildlands. The report also offers practical tips for preparing a home for the risk of an approaching wildfire, as well as information about resources available to Oregon homeowners and landowners who want to mitigate the risk of fire to their properties. The report was produced in partnership with Keep Oregon Green, the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State University Extension Service. To order a free copy or download a PDF, visit oregonforests.org/publications
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OEM is hiring
Exercise Officer – Program Analyst 2
Provides technical assistance to, and coordinates the actions of local government officials, state agencies, federal agencies and local experts in the emergency management field to conduct exercises as set forth in the Emergency Management Program for Oregon. Full-time, permanent position located in Salem. Apply at Workday by Nov. 28.
Mitigation Support Specialist – Program Analyst 3
Works with all levels of government to include local, state, and federal jurisdictions as well as non-governmental organizations. Planning for and the implementation of hazard mitigation measures is also essential in promoting the economic viability of the state. Full-time, limited duration position located in Salem. Apply at Workday by Dec. 1.
Administrative Specialist 2
Supports the Mitigation Team and is responsible for administrative duties including data management, filing duties, and assisting fiscal and programmatic duties for Federal Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs. Full-time, limited duration position funded through the 22/23 biennium and located in Salem. Apply at Workday by Dec. 3. Applicant information discussion: 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 23 via Zoom (Meeting ID: 842 6562 4481, Passcode: 299083).
Regional Response & Preparedness Coordinator – Program Analyst 3
Full-time, permanent position in Roseburg that serves the southwest region, including Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Coos and Curry counties. Support grants and develops, trains, and exercises plans, procedures and programs to help state and local governments effectively prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency events. Apply at Workday by Dec. 5. Applicant information discussion: 2 p.m. on Nov. 29 via Zoom (Meeting ID: 857 0675 8571, Passcode: 973653).
Mitigation Program Representative – Program Analyst 2
Coordinates with and supports the State Hazard Mitigation Officer in the administration and management of the State’s Hazard Mitigation Program objectives. Full-time, permanent position located in Salem. Apply at Workday by Feb. 4, 2022. Applicant information discussion: 1 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 1 p.m. on Jan. 11, 2022 (meeting ID 852 2632 3131, passcode 878839).
9-1-1 Project Portfolio Manager - Information Systems Specialist 8
This position is responsible for providing project portfolio management leadership and the coordination of a statewide approach to implement modern cost-effective Next Generation 9-1-1 Core Services for Oregon’s 43 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). Full-time, limited-duration position located in Salem. Apply at Workday by Feb. 18, 2022.
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Federal Share of Disaster Funds Obligated to be Spent in Oregon
DR4599—2020 Flooding: $2,010,130
DR4562—2020 Wildfire: $263,178,968
DR4499—COVID-19: $365,425,053
DR4599—2021 Ice Storm: $1,462,261
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