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Weekly Watch is a weekly bulletin for emergency managers, partners and stakeholders. If you have topics pertaining to emergency management you'd like included in a future issue, please send them to OEM Public Affairs at public.info@mil.state.or.us. Stories must be received by noon on Friday to be considered for the following Monday's report. If you'd like to unsubscribe, you'll find directions at the bottom of this issue.
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Director's Message
On June 19 (and federally on June 20), our country will observe Juneteenth, an important date commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in 1865. In recent years, Oregonians have experienced several federal disaster declarations and dozens of state emergency declarations. While each of us may have felt the impact of these disasters, it's important to understand and acknowledge that each of us was impacted differently. Disasters have a disproportionately negative impact on vulnerable and historically marginalized populations. This is a data-supported fact we’ve experienced firsthand here in Oregon – recently and throughout our state’s history.
On May 30, 1948, Vanport – the nation’s largest housing project and Oregon’s second-largest city – was destroyed over the course of an afternoon by the Vanport Flood. At least 18,500 people were displaced; more than 6,000 were black. Fifteen Vanport residents lost their lives.
The Vanport Flood was not a natural disaster. The days of rain that preceded the flood were natural. The power of the swollen Columbia River was natural. But the disaster itself was the result of policy decisions that placed Oregon’s poor – many of whom were black, brown or Japanese Americans recently released from World War II internment camps – into a quickly and shoddily built community insufficiently protected from the water that surrounded them.
As the impending disaster became more evident, the government officials charged with protecting their communities failed to notify the residents of Vanport of the danger they faced, instead allowing the waters of the Columbia River streaming through failed and collapsing berms to serve as the evacuation notice. The scars from Vanport are still evident today and are re-opened when anyone in Oregon is traumatized by an emergency or disaster and faces barriers getting the help they or their loved ones need because of their economic status, the language they speak, their level of education, the color of their skin, or because past injustices have caused a lasting mistrust of government.
The tragedy of Vanport serves as a reminder of how our policies, systemic racism and entrenched inequities impact our historically underserved and underrepresented communities. It also underscores the need for transparency and accountability across every level and in every corner of government. This Juneteenth, we at the Oregon Office of Emergency Management pledge an effort to affect positive change and more equitable outcomes for the communities of color our agency serves.
You can read more about the history of the Vanport Flood at Oregon Encyclopedia.
Take care of yourselves and take care of each other. Andrew Phelps, Director, Oregon Office of Emergency Management
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State Activates ECC to Support Morrow County
The state Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) activated on June 13 to support Morrow County in planning and response for nitrate contamination that is affecting drinking water in parts of the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area. OEM and state partners with responsibilities related to drinking water safety and mass care have been working with the county to assess the situation, identify planning priorities and identify potential state support needed to address life safety priorities. Planning and coordination meetings will be held with local and state partners who have roles in the response. Statewide coordination calls will not be held for this incident, at this time.
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Governor Signs Executive Order for Extreme Drought Conditions
Last week, Governor Brown signed Executive Order No. 22-10 in response to extreme drought conditions that have caused and continue to cause a state of emergency in 17 Oregon counties. While individual drought declarations have been provided to assist these counties, this executive order provides an additional layer of state support and facilitates a coordinated response. OEM has been designated to lead statewide coordination and planning for emergency issues related to drought; these efforts are already underway. All counties with current state-level drought declarations under ORS 536.740 are included in the EO 22-10 state of emergency, and additional counties that receive state-level declarations will automatically be included as well. Any local government requests for emergency resources must be submitted to OEM through the counties.
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Webinar: Lessons Learned from the 2021 Heat Dome and Climate Change
The Northwest Center for Public Health Practice is holding a one-hour webinar discussing changes made since the 2021 heat dome incident, highlighting transferable lessons and sharing resources for other public health agencies. Presented by Brendon Haggerty, interim supervisor of Healthy Homes and Communities at the Multnomah County Health Department, the presentation will discuss climate change as an equity issue and the effect of mass deaths from the heat and COVID-19 pandemic on public health staff. It will also provide information on the county’s new interventions, worst case scenario planning, and mitigation practices. The webinar will be capped at 500; register via Zoom.
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DHS Issues National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the continued heightened threat environment across the U.S. In the coming months, DHS expects the threat environment to become more dynamic as several high-profile events could be exploited to justify acts of violence against a range of possible targets. These targets could include public gatherings; faith-based institutions; schools; racial, ethnic and religious minorities; government facilities and personnel; U.S. critical infrastructure; the media; and perceived ideological opponents. DHS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continue to share timely and actionable information and intelligence with the broadest audience possible. The public should report any suspicious activity or threats of violence to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices or the Oregon Titan Fusion Center.
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June is PTSD Awareness Month
June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month. PTSD is a mental health concern that some people develop after they see or experience a traumatic event. PTSD symptoms may include reliving or re-experiencing the event, avoidance, negative changes in beliefs and feelings, and being on guard. Given the multitude of disasters that have impacted our state over the last few years—including prolonged drought, devastating wildfires, historic flooding, severe ice storms and record-setting temperatures, many Oregonians may be dealing with PTSD. Learn more about the disorder, including getting treatment and finding a provider, at the National Center for PTSD website.
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National Weather Service 2022 Summer Outlook
The wet weather pattern the state’s experienced since April has led to improving drought conditions in parts of northern and eastern Oregon. Drought persists, however, in central and southern Oregon. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the Climate Prediction Center Outlook for June through August is for a better chance of drier and warmer than normal conditions, with the trend continuing through the remainder of summer. The risk of wildland fires will increase first across central and southern Oregon, then spread north and east into July and August as warmer and drier conditions are felt. The onset of fire season may be somewhat delayed in areas that have received beneficial rains recently. Visit the NWS Summer Safety page for a number of resources for messaging safety for summer weather hazards; it contains numerous canned messages and infographics for sharing on social media.
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Natural Hazards Research and Applications Workshop
OSFM Launches New Grant for Wildfire Staffing
To better meet the challenge of increasingly difficult fire years, the Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has rolled out a new grant program to add capacity at the local level. As part of the OSFM’s Response Ready Oregon Initiative, roughly $4 million in grant funding is available to all 306 local fire districts and departments to bring on additional staff during the 2022 wildfire season. Local fire agencies can request up to $35,000 to support staffing, which will increase on-duty capacity throughout the 2022 fire season at the local level and allow agencies to mobilize quickly to fires at the local, regional and state (conflagration) level. Having more on-duty firefighters will help keep fires small before they can impact communities. Current staff and volunteers are eligible for additional hours under the grant using the current agency staffing model and pay scale. Application review began June 6 and applications may be considered through August 12, subject to availability of funds. Learn more and apply at OSFM’s website.
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Positions Open for Oregon’s AmeriCorps VISTA Team
Positions are now open for the August 2022 cohort in the Oregon Health Authority AmeriCorps VISTA Partnership Project. This opportunity is for professionals interested in leading anti-poverty public health initiatives in their agencies and communities for one year. Learn more about the day-to-day work and the benefits of serving with AmeriCorps through virtual recruitment office hours from 1-1:45 p.m. every Thursday between now and July 14. on Zoom (case sensitive passcode: OHA.VISTA). Applications are due by July 17.
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CISA Adds 39 Known Exploited Vulnerabilities to Catalog
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added 36 new vulnerabilities to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog, based on evidence of active exploitation. These types of vulnerabilities are a frequent attack vector for malicious cyber actors and pose significant risk to the federal enterprise. View the newly added vulnerabilities in the catalog by clicking on the arrow in the "Date Added to Catalog" column, which will sort by descending dates.
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Resources to Support Fire Adaptation Efforts
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OEM has developed the following flyer for evacuation readiness to help Oregonians stay safe during wildfire season. We encourage all our partners to share this with their communities. English and Spanish versions are below. To save, simply right click and "save image as." If you'd like to receive the flyer in Russian and Vietnamese, please email a request to public.info@mil.state.or.us.
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Emergency Management Job Postings |
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Do you have an emergency management-related job posting you’d like included in Weekly Watch? Submit listings by Friday noon to be considered for the following Monday's report; send to OEM Public Affairs at public.info@mil.state.or.us.
City of Hillsboro, Communications & Marketing Officer (PIO) Parks & Recreation. Apply at Government Jobs by June 15.
Clackamas County Public Health Division EMS & Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program Manager. Apply at Clackamas County HR by June 15.
OSFM Community Risk Reduction Manager. Apply at Workday by June 15.
OEM Evaluations and Assessments Analyst (PA2). Apply at Workday by June 16.
US Army Corps of Engineers, Chief of the Kansas City District Public Affairs Office. Apply at USA Jobs by June 17.
Clackamas Community College Director of College Safety. Apply at School Jobs by June 19.
OEM Tribal Liaison (Operations and Policy Analyst 3). Apply at Workday by June 22. Applicant Information Session from noon-1 p.m. on June 16 via Zoom.
OEM Finance Division Director CFO - PEM/F (BOM3). Apply at Workday by June 30. Applicant information session from 2-3 p.m. on June 24 via Zoom.
Multnomah Education Service District Senior Program Administrator of Communications and Public Affairs. Apply at MESD by June 30.
Clatsop County Senior Communications Specialist. Apply at Clatsop County by July 5.
Clackamas County Director, Disaster Management. Apply at Clackamas County..
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Training Opportunities and Resources |
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June 14, 2022: PER-336 Protective Measures Course (Salem). Register via FEMA (must have FEMA SID).
June 15-17, 2022: PER-346 Surveillance Detection for Bombing Prevention Course (Salem). Register via FEMA (must have FEMA SID).
June 20-24, 2022: L0967 NIMS ICS All-Hazards Logistics Section Chief (Portland). Register via Integrated Solutions.
June 21-29: The Northwest Oregon Subsection AWWA Waterworks School is offering virtual training for water system operators in four core sections: Basics, Distribution & Maintenance, Water Quality & Treatment, Supervision & Leadership. Register via Constant Contact.
June 27-30: L0962 NIMS ICS All-Hazards Planning Section Chief Course (Portland). Hosted by Oregon Health Authority. Register via SmartSheet.
July 12-14: PER-213 Wide Area Search (Clackamas). Register via Texas A&M Engineering.
For additional training information and resources, click the links below.
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Total Federal Share of Public Assistance Disaster Funds Obligated to be Spent in Oregon
DR4499—COVID-19: $403,913,915 DR4519—2020 Flooding: $3,224,653 DR4562—2020 Wildfire: $359,306,660 DR4599—2021 Ice Storm: $9,537,874
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