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Director's Message
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, or so the song goes. But it can also be the most stressful. Oregonians have been through a lot this year, and we’ve seen time and time again how important it is to take care of ourselves, our loved ones and our communities, especially in times of crisis.
As you enjoy the upcoming holidays, take time to care for your own needs and emotions. Self-care is an effective way to reduce stress, improve well-being, and help you find some joy in challenging situations. Even 10 minutes can positively impact your mental health – and allows enough time to step outside for a breath of fresh air, do a meditation, fit in a quick workout, or chat with a loved one to help you reset. When you feel better, everyone around you also benefits from that positive energy.
Practicing gratitude for the people and events in your life may also help you more fully appreciate and find meaning this holiday season. It’s a reminder to check on the emotional welfare of your loved ones and your neighbors. Stress is a hazard all its own – to our health and wellbeing. Reducing this risk can bring immediate benefits for us and those around us and allows us to better deal with everything else on our plate.
If you or your loved ones are feeling stressed or anxious this holiday season, there are places you can turn for help. If the emergencies and disasters we’ve experienced in Oregon continue to cause feelings of anxiety, grief or sadness, the National Disaster Distress helpline is here for you; call or text 1-800-985-5990. The Oregon Dept. of Human Services has also assembled a comprehensive list of community resources and helplines, all of which are confidential and offer translation services. You can also dial 2-1-1.
I am truly grateful to collaborate with such a talented and passionate group of emergency management partners. I wish you and yours a safe and restful holiday season, and I send strength and positivity to those who need it.
Take care of yourselves, and take care of each other.
Andrew Phelps, Director, Oregon Office of Emergency Management
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Dark Horse Comics releases comic book on Northwest wildfires
The Oregon Office of Emergency Management and Dark Horse Comics have released a new comic book titled, Without Warning! Wildfire. Addressing what to do before and during a Northwest wildfire, the comic is the third in a series of educational and entertaining comic books promoting emergency preparedness; the first two comics focused on earthquakes and tsunamis. The Without Warning! comic book series began as a way to engage with a younger demographic while introducing and reinforcing the concept of readiness. Empowering every Oregonian – including youth – to reduce their risk, be ready, and know what to do when disaster strikes is critical to staying safe. Kids and teens who are prepared often experience less anxiety and feel more confident during actual emergencies and disasters. The comic series is available to download from OEM in English and Spanish. Printed copies will be available in early 2022 through county and tribal emergency management offices (emergency managers are asked to complete the OEM Publications Request Form or order through their Regional Coordinator). This latest comic was produced in collaboration with Clackamas Community College, Oregon Dept. of Forestry and Keep Oregon Green.
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Applications open for the Disability Emergency Management Advisory Council
Applications are now open for membership on the Disability Emergency Management Advisory Council of Oregon. Formed in January 2020, the DEMAC is a statewide cross-disability council that believes equity in emergency management is possible and that people have a right to be included and treated with dignity and respect. The DEMAC was created to apply the experiences and knowledge of people with disabilities, as subject matter experts, to guide statewide emergency management in the development and implementation of inclusive practices through all planning, response and recovery activities. The DEMAC is jointly funded by the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, the Oregon Dept. of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority. Applications are being accepted through Jan. 17, 2022; click here to learn more and apply.
Celebrating 25 years of EMAC
The National Emergency Management Association has released a report on the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC)’s 25-year history. The report reviews the Compact’s origins, the pivotal events that shaped mutual aid, and how after-action reports and feedback from EMAC’s members and stakeholders have shaped the nation’s mutual aid system. In just the past two years amidst a global pandemic, EMAC has been used to share lifesaving commodities and deploy over 10,000 personnel. Year after year, EMAC leverages the billions of dollars spent to increase capabilities across the nation for rapid, scalable response. This report is an inspirational chronicle of how in the worst of times mutual aid can help and the changes to the system that makes it happen.
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Virtual training courses for You Will Not Stand Alone
The National Advanced Fire & Resource Institute has announced two virtual training courses for You Will Not Stand Alone, a national comprehensive guide to help responders maneuver through incidents involving fatalities or serious injuries. You Will Not Stand Alone is an introductory course focused on providing guidance for employees, family members, and other survivors who have been impacted by a critical incident, such as a loss of life, or serious and traumatic injury; a community of ideas and recommendations to help move through these events; suggestions for self-care and supporting responders and liaisons; and support mechanisms to ensure that no one will ever stand alone in the wake of tragedy. The courses are open to all Forest Service employees and interagency partners. Each session is a five-part series, and takes place from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. The first session will take place on Feb. 14, 15, 17, 22 and 24. The second session will take place April 18, 19, 21, 26 and 28.
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Debris Management Task Force wraps up hazard tree operations
The ODOT-led Debris Management Task Force crews have wrapped up hazard tree operations from the September 2020 wildfires – nearly a year after starting operations and ahead of the initial 18-month estimated timeframe. Salvage log removal and some additional chip processing and cleanup efforts will continue for a few more weeks, but the tree removal and processing are now complete. With significant progress made to help keep Oregon travelers and communities safe, Task Force-led debris removal and hazard tree work are now complete in the OR-224 corridor. The holidays will bring a brief work pause for other wildfire highway corridors; primarily for OR-22, OR-126 and OR-138, operations will pause to allow for efficient holiday travel, though delays can still be expected. Travelers should check TripCheck for the most current conditions. Visit debriscleanupnews.com for more information, including a heartwarming story out of the Santiam Canyon.
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FEMA seeks volunteers for National Review Panel
FEMA is accepting applications for volunteers to assist with the virtual National Review Panel for the fiscal year 2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, also known as BRIC. These volunteers will leverage their experience and expertise during the review to assess the degree to which sub-applications meet the six BRIC qualitative evaluation criteria: Risk Reduction/Resiliency Effectiveness; Climate Change and Other Future Conditions; Implementation Measures; Population Impacted; Outreach Activities; and Leveraging Partners. FEMA anticipates the panels will increase transparency into the decision-making process for applicants, while building capability and partnerships with the panelists. The deadline to submit expressions of interest is Jan. 14, 2022.
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Hazard Situation Overview dashboard
Multiple Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect across the state through Monday evening. View the latest hazard information on OEM's hazard situation overview dashboard, which features content regarding hazards within the state. Specifically, you can view information related to the forecasted stream gage heights for flooding in Oregon by clicking on the flood forecast link on the overview page or on the flood tab on the top of the website; to view the flood dashboard directly, visit arcgis.com.
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Call for Presentations for the 2022 National Homeland Security Conference
The National Homeland Security Association is accepting proposals until Jan. 21, 2022, for the National Homeland Security Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. The conference will be held July 11-14, 2022. Presentations that focus on current issues, lessons learned, best practices, developing technologies, emerging threats, and participant interaction are strongly encouraged and will be given preference.
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Career Opportunities
Public Safety Communications Specialist - ISS 5
The Oregon Statewide Interoperability Program is seeking a Public Safety Communications Specialist to support the SWIC, Deputy SWIC, State Interoperability Executive Council (SIEC), state and local public safety and emergency management leaders, tribes, federal agencies, and others to carry out the State Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP). This position will play a vital role in supporting emergency communications across the state. Apply at Workday by Dec. 27.
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).
Budget Analyst (Fiscal Analyst 3)
The Budget Analyst performs as a principal budget advisor to agency executive management in a complex and dynamic organization. Responsibilities for this position include budget preparation and monitoring, policy analysis, grant monitoring, development of Oregon Department of Emergency Management’s indirect cost rate and develops and prepares annual performance progress reports. Full-time, permanent position located in Salem. Apply at Workday by Jan. 27, 2022.
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.
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Federal Share of Disaster Funds Obligated to be Spent in Oregon
DR4519—2020 Flooding: $2,430,018
DR4562—2020 Wildfire: $317,388,032
DR4499—COVID-19: $365,789,410
DR4599—2021 Ice Storm: $1,917,332
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