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Director's Message
Today’s Guest Director’s Message comes to us from Althea Rizzo, OEM’s Geological Hazards Program Coordinator.
Last week, a swarm of more than 55 earthquakes — ranging from a magnitude 3.5 to 5.8 — rattled off the coast of Oregon over 24 hours. The fault line responsible for the quakes is the Blanco Fracture Zone, a very active transform fault zone located 200-300 miles off the Oregon coast where the Juan de Fuca plate slides past the Pacific plate. In a transform fault, tectonic plates move laterally, sliding past each other; this differs from the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where plates slide under one another.
The Blanco Fracture Zone is among the most seismically active in North America, but it rarely leads to destructive quakes. It’s located some 275 miles west of the Oregon coastline and about 200 miles west of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The eastern segment of the Blanco Fracture Zone is called the Blanco Ridge. Most large earthquakes in the zone occur on the Blanco Ridge, as the motion on this fault accounts for most of the plate movement.
Fortunately, these earthquakes are too far from the coast to be of concern and have little to no influence on the chances of a Cascadia Subduction Zone quake. Additionally, these types of transform faults are not prone to the type of seafloor displacement that could cause a tsunami. They do serve as great reminders for folks to make sure their emergency plan is in place, check the contents of their go-bag and inventory their two weeks' worth of shelter-in-place supplies!
Althea Rizzo, Geological Hazards Program Coordinator
Oregon Office of Emergency Management
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Earthquake primers available in 11 languages
Earthquakes happen with little to no warning. To help Oregonians prepare, Multnomah County Emergency Management has produced earthquake primers that can be downloaded in 11 different languages. The packet of materials includes earthquake facts, a guide to help make an emergency plan and build an emergency kit, and a poster about how to protect oneself during an earthquake. This information can also help families with other common emergencies. Visit multco.us to download the primers.
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EarthCruiser awards rescue trucks for SPIRE grantees
EarthCruiser USA, a Bend-based manufacturer of overland adventure vehicles, has awarded six high-performing 4X4 chassis to the State Preparedness and Incident Response Equipment (SPIRE) grant program. Made by CORE (Commander Off-Road Equipment) Vehicles, a division of EarthCruiser, these road-legal rescue trucks will serve communities across the state with wilderness firefighting, Homeland Security, medical response, equipment delivery, mobile laboratories, DIY overland vehicle builders and more. John Stafford, business growth and development manager with EarthCrusier, said that when the company looked at disaster rescue and relief, it wanted to provide a vehicle that could get first responders directly to the scene and then get them back safely. Check out this video to see what the CORE 4x4 off-road trucks can handle.
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2020 CERT Annual Certification results
FEMA has released the 2020 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Annual Certification results. CERTs were asked to report basic information and program activities that occurred during 2020. The results from the 2020 Certification have provided valuable insight into CERTs nationwide and the types of deployment activities they conduct. Seeing the diversity and expertise of the CERT Program displayed in the 2020 Certification data deepens the understanding of the hardworking volunteers who make up CERTs around the nation and highlights their success in equipping their communities with the ability to prepare for hazards. View the report in full at community.fema.gov.
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Make an appointment for Saturday’s Blood Donor Day
Emergencies and disasters happen without warning, so a strong blood supply is integral to supporting people in critical condition. Blood donations are currently down locally and nationally, with inventory levels at unprecedented lows. While a four or five-day blood supply is ideal for patients, the Northwest has less than a 24-hour supply in stock of Type O positive – the most common transfused blood type.
This Saturday, Dec. 18, is Blood Donor Day in Oregon and Washington – as proclaimed by Governor Brown and Washington Governor Inslee to commemorate the Amtrak 501 derailment that occurred on that date in 2017. Injured passengers from that event received blood donations, made possible because blood supplies were stocked weeks prior through community donations. That accident underscores the need for communities to be prepared for the next local emergency. Help save lives -- book a donation at Bloodworks Northwest or the American Red Cross.
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PBEM and RDPO share winter weather safety messages in 26 languages
The Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) and the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization (RDPO) have shared 100+ critical winter weather safety messages in 26 languages. These messages were selected to speak to those most impacted by winter events: People living outside, people with low incomes, older adults vulnerable to cold, people with medical needs vulnerable to power outages, people hesitant to use heat because of the utility expenses, etc. The messages were translated by a local vendor with a focus on cultural competency. Languages were selected using Metro’s Factor 1 Analysis and feedback from community-based organizations. This is an excellent resource to share with communities before and during a winter weather event.
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ODHS presents campaign for those feeling alone
Not everyone looks forward to the holiday season and during Covid-19, physical distancing creates increased concerns. The Oregon Dept. of Human Services wants those feeling stressed, depressed or lonely to know they are not alone. The agency has launched a public service campaign titled, “During Covid-19 You are not Alone” featuring a comprehensive list of community resources and helplines; all the helplines listed are confidential and offer translation services. The campaign also offers social media resources and flyers, available in 12 languages, to download and share.
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OR-Alert statewide AWN guidance workshop
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security (CISA)’s Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program is holding an OR-Alert guidance development workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 21. The goal of the workshop is to collaboratively develop public alerts, warnings and notifications guidance for users of OR-Alert throughout the state. The workshop will be held on Teams, or call in at 503-446-4951, ID 195974761#.
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Washington offers new emergency preparedness tool
The State of Washington has published a new 24-page emergency preparedness guide called Prepare in a Year. The handbook walks the reader through 12 important steps for disaster preparedness. One hour of planning and action each month leads to successful preparedness. The tool urges users to think of disaster preparedness not as a checkbox -- something to do once and never again -- but rather a continual process of learning, restocking supplies, and encouraging others to be prepared. This book is the first step on a personal preparedness journey. Read and download the guide at mil.wa.gov.
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OEM is hiring
Preparedness Section Manager (Principal Executive/Manager E)
Responsible for coordinating, developing, updating, publishing, and disseminating the State Emergency Management Plan and related procedures; management of the enforcement functions related to the agreements and related federal, state, and local regulations; and supports the various activities in the State Emergency Coordination Center during emergency activations or exercises. Full-time, permanent position located in Salem. Apply at Workday by Dec. 30. Applicant information discussion: 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 (meeting ID: 817 3320 2478, passcode: 361791).
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 Jan. 11, 2022 (meeting ID 852 2632 3131, passcode 878839).
9-1-1 Project Portfolio Manager - Information Systems Specialist 8
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.
Regional Mitigation and Recovery Coordinator (Program Analyst 3) – 5 positions
Responsible for supporting multiple counties within respective regions: Cascades, Eastern, Northwest, Portland Metro and Southwest Regions. These positions will act as a regional representative to coordinate with and support the State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO), Public Assistance Officer, and Individual assistance program manager to administer and manage the State’s Hazard Mitigation and Recovery Program objectives. Full-time, permanent position located in Bend, Pendleton, Portland, Roseburg and Warrenton. Apply at Workday by Feb. 27, 2022.
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Federal Share of Disaster Funds Obligated to be Spent in Oregon
DR4519—2020 Flooding: $2,430,018
DR4562—2020 Wildfire: $267,177,061
DR4499—COVID-19: $365,425,053
DR4599—2021 Ice Storm: $1,757,074
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