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Director's Message
Everything we do in emergency management either serves to reduce risk or manage consequences. Last week, the Office of Emergency Management submitted nine grant applications to FEMA: Six for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and three for Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA). These programs recognize the growing hazards associated with climate change and the need for natural and flood hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation and resilience.
FEMA has made available $1 billion for national competition and $1 million for state projects to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments and local communities. The BRIC grant focuses on hazard mitigation activities while the FMA offers funding to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program.
Oregon’s wildfire activity has steadily increased over the past decade, with more fires burning hotter, in areas that historically haven’t burned, and with fire season becoming a 12-month event. HMGP-DR-4562-OR is related to the 2020 wildfires and provided the largest Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding source in state history. Our Interagency Hazard Mitigation Team and State Hazard Mitigation Officer are busy reviewing submitted subapplications for eligibility and determining which ones to submit to FEMA for further review. We thank FEMA Region X for its help in providing resources for technical assistance and subapplication development.
OEM has more than tripled its mitigation team to provide technical assistance, conduct one-on-one meetings with potential subapplicants, and increase capacity in pre or subapplication reviews. As we continue to grow and strengthen this program, please contact our state hazard mitigation officer at shmo@mil.state.or.us with questions about mitigation activities, planning or funding.
Oregon has witnessed six major disaster declarations in the last three years. These funding opportunities allow communities and jurisdictions to reduce our shared risk and mitigate the impacts to our changing climate, helping ensure we are preparing for the disasters we face today and in years to come.
Take care of yourselves and take care of each other.
Andrew Phelps, Director, Oregon Office of Emergency Management
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Governor issues state emergency declaration tied to winter storms
Governor Brown has issued a state of emergency declaration due to severe winter storms beginning Dec. 30, 2021, and continuing through Jan. 7, 2022, which resulted in heavy rain, high winds, flooding, landslides and erosion at various locations in Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Curry, Douglas, Lane, Lincoln, Multnomah, Polk and Yamhill Counties. This severe weather damaged state highways with washouts, debris flows and mudslides and led to critical transportation failures and disruption to energy and communications infrastructure. The emergency declaration allows the Oregon Dept. of Transportation to provide appropriate assistance and seek federal resources for repair and reconstruction of the estimated $3.5 million or more of damages and impact to the federal aid highway system in the named counties.
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Mitigating the threat of terrorist-initiated arson attacks on wildland-urban interface areas
The National Counterterrorism Center, Dept. of Homeland Security and the FBI have released an informational report describing how foreign terrorist organizations are encouraging arson attacks in the U.S. because of its perceived simplicity and potential to cause significant and widespread damage. The report cites several examples, including an instance in 2020 when ISIS released an English language video titled Incite the Believers that urged supporters to conduct arson attacks in forests, fields, cities and villages and to safely dispose of evidence to hinder law enforcement investigations. The report outlines recommended practices, procedures and precautions to help first responders and the public mitigate the threat of terrorist-initiated arson attacks on wildland-urban interface areas. Visit dni.gov to see the full report.
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Oregon Information Technology/Telecommunications RRAP Kick-Off Meeting
The Regional Resiliency Assessment Program is hosting a hybrid in-person and Microsoft Teams kick-off planning meeting to study the vulnerabilities and resiliency of various state-owned telecommunications infrastructure systems. The Oregon Information Technology Telecommunication Systems project will focus on assessing risk for all hazards including earthquakes and physical/cyber-attacks by evaluating the IT infrastructure to include telephony-based communications applications, network security architecture, network backbone, cloud connectivity, remote data center architecture and emergency response capacity. The outcome of this study will be used to inform the governor, the state CIO and CISO, and state agency leaders of risks associated with the current IT architectures. It will also identify high-consequence points of failure of IT infrastructure with the goal of enhancing strengths and fortifying weak points in the systems. The meeting will take place from 1-4:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Oregon Office of Emergency Management Emergency Coordination Center or via Microsoft Teams. Learn more and register at govevents.com.
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MyShake app adds enhancements, debuts in Washington to cover the entire West Coast
MyShake, an earthquake early warning system app that operates in Oregon, California and now Washington, has launched a new enhancement called HomeBase that allows users to set a default location where they can receive earthquake early warning alerts, even if location services are temporarily down or turned off. This increases the app’s ability to send timely alerts so that those affected by an earthquake can receive a warning for a location of their choosing and be prepared for shaking. Other new features on the app include the ability to set an audible tone prior to the verbal warning; and the addition of tsunami safety information. MyShake leverages the technology of the federal ShakeAlert earthquake early warning system to deliver early warning of earthquakes before shaking starts. These alerts are already available to all mobile phones through the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system and/or through a built-in-earthquake alerting system on the Android Operating System. The MyShake app provides a third option that may be a faster way for users to get an earthquake alert on their phones than the WEA system. Learn more at https://earthquake.ca.gov/.
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Beating COVID comic book increases community engagement
NW Disability Support has recently released Beating COVID, a follow-up to last year’s hugely popular comic book, Fighting COVID. These comics, which tell the story of a superhero with a disability who goes on a journey and learns how to fight and beat the COVID-19 virus, are imaginative and compelling while delivering preventive and educational information about COVID-19. The comic books serve as an optional health promotion tool that clinics and partners can use to increase community engagement, especially among youth. The comic books are available in English and Spanish, and a rolling ordering system is being offered while supplies last. FQHCs, CBOs, LPHAs and school-based health centers can place an order for 100 free copies. Orders are anticipated to begin shipping a few weeks after they are placed.
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2022 virtual waterworks school for water system operators
The Northwest Oregon Subsection AWWA Waterworks School is offering virtual training via Zoom for water system operators in four core sections: Basics; Distribution and Maintenance; Water Quality and Treatment; and Supervision and Leadership. Sessions will be held June 21-23, 28 and 29. Costs are associated. Click here for more information and to register.
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FEMA’s Continuous Improvement Technical Assistance Program
FEMA’s Continuous Improvement Technical Assistance Program improves survivor outcomes through agency-wide assessment and corrective action tracking. The program provides technical assistance to State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal partners and other federal agencies through tools, templates, training and customized engagements. CITAP’s training suite offers opportunities to learn, gain knowledge and develop skills in continuous improvement through virtual, independent study and in-person training courses. Learn more at a monthly Continuous Improvement Walkthrough from 9-10 a.m. on Feb. 1 and again on March 1: The walkthrough will cover basic continuous improvement information and provide an overview of the CITAP PrepToolkit website, including how to use the site and its resources. Register and view more upcoming webinars on the CITAP Preparedness Toolkit website.
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Mobile virtual training course on awareness of and response to homemade explosives
The Oregon Titan Fusion Center has scheduled a one-day mobile virtual training course titled, Homemade Explosives: Awareness, Recognition, and Response. Taking place from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on March 29, the free online course provides emergency management, emergency medical services, fire service and law enforcement with information on general explosive characteristics and hazards, homemade explosive precursor materials, homemade explosive manufacturing indicators, and Improvised Explosive Device (IED) components. Additionally, the course teaches how to identify a homemade explosive laboratory and how to establish scene safety and security in such an incident. The course will also present information regarding community awareness and education programs related to homemade explosives. This information better prepares first responders to recognize hazards associated with homemade explosives during response operations. Register via Zoom.
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American Sign Language basics for CERT
FEMA Region 2 and AQI Interpreting Services are holding an American Sign Language Basics for CERT webinar from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Feb. 2 focusing on the communication needs for including Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants in a CERT program. American Sign Language and English are not the same: ASL has its own grammar and syntax with the same richness and nuance as any other language. The instructors will bring a perspective of being Deaf, a sign language interpreter and a person with a mild to moderate hearing loss and learning sign language. Register for the ASL 101 for CERT webinar through FEMA. The webinar will also be recorded and made available on the FEMA Preparedness Webinar portal.
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OEM Career Opportunities
OEM Grant Accountant (Accountant 3): Apply at Workday by Feb. 1.
Responsible for the grant accounting related to the Homeland Security Grant Program, which includes reviewing requests for reimbursements in accordance with state and federal regulations, providing technical assistance to subrecipients, ensuring federal funds are drawn and paid to subrecipients, and conducting monthly reconciliations of open HSGP grants. Full-time, permanent position in Salem.
OEM 9-1-1 Project Portfolio Manager (Information Systems Specialist 8): Apply at Workday by Feb. 18.
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 in Salem.
OEM 9-1-1 Office Specialist 2: Apply at Workday by Feb. 25.
Provides a variety of office support functions for the State 9-1-1 Program Section such as typing, filing, document scanning, word processing, telephone answering, computer data entry and information retrieval. This position will build an understanding of the 9-1-1 Program, 9-1-1 customer products and services, Oregon Emergency Response System (OERS), and Search and Rescue (SAR) Program areas to answer routine questions and route calls to the appropriate individual or program areas. Full-time, permanent position in Salem.
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Readiness Resource
OEM is pleased to share infographics to help message readiness. Click on the image and save as a picture, then post, share or embed as needed!
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