This is a momentous week for us here at OEM. On Friday, July 1, the Oregon Office of Emergency Management will officially become the first-ever Oregon Department of Emergency Management, a cabinet-level department independent from the Oregon Military Department (OMD), reporting directly to the governor. The timeline of this transition, a result of House Bill (HB) 2927, officially began July 1, 2021, and for the past year, we’ve been working very closely with OMD to ensure a successful separation and establishment of the department - all while continuing to support our partners and stakeholders. We are incredibly excited and honored to become the Oregon Department of Emergency Management this Friday!

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management will operate under the familiar acronym of OEM – Oregon Emergency Management – to continue building on our agency’s credibility and recognition. We’re also pleased to give you a first look at our new logo, which goes into effect July 1. This modern refresh of our previous logo replaces the mountain background with the outline of our state to better represent all communities we serve in Oregon.

This establishment transitions OEM to a stand-alone department better positioned to prioritize risk reduction while maintaining local support statewide for consequence management. Being a stand-alone department coincides with unprecedented growth in state-level emergency management. Since the 2021 legislative session, we’ve more than doubled our staff from 44 to 93 full-time positions and seen budgetary increases to support this increased capacity.  These resources will help implement our vision of an established, equitable culture of preparedness that empowers Oregonians to thrive in times of crisis.

With these new positions, we’ve outgrown the footprint the Anderson Readiness Center can support, both for day-to-day operations and activations of the State ECC. In the coming months, we will be moving to our new location in southeast Salem. Our staff will occupy the second floor of the space, while the bottom floor will house the ECC and JIC starting in early 2023.

As a department, we are committed to a comprehensive and equitable approach to reducing Oregon’s shared risk.  We will evolve our policies and programs to better support all communities, placing an intentional focus on those historically marginalized and underserved, to ensure programs and resources are equitable, inclusive and accessible. And we will continue to advocate for investments in risk reduction initiatives that look forward at the changing hazards and seek to mitigate the impacts to the changing climate.

All of us at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management are eager to continue partnering with the communities we serve to modernize emergency management and build a culture of preparedness in Oregon that empowers individuals, families and communities to be disaster survivors rather than victims. Let’s get to work!

Take care of yourselves and take care of each other.
Andrew Phelps, Director, Oregon Office of Emergency Management

Portland Bureau of Emergency Management is hosting Heat Week 2022 this week with an online webinar at 6 p.m. on June 29 about the warning signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and how to assist people in distress. Firefighter-Paramedic Tremaine Clayton, who has served with Portland Fire & Rescue for over 20 years, became the Community Healthcare Assessment Team Coordinator for the bureau in 2017, developing the Portland Street Response program, a model of non-police response teams for people in mental health crisis or those experiencing adverse reactions to substance use intoxication in public spaces. Register with Zoom.

RPA deadline for DR4499 COVID-19: For entities who have not submitted a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) under DR4499 and are seeking federal reimbursement for eligible costs incurred in responding to COVID-19, the deadline to submit the initial application is July 1. Eligible applicants include state, local and tribal governments, special districts, and certain private nonprofits that have incurred costs in reopening activities and responding to COVID-19. Applicants must submit their RPA through the FEMA Grants Portal. If you need assistance in registering in FEMA Grants Portal or submitting an RPA under DR4499, please email selicity.icefire@oem.oregon.gov.

COVID-19 antigen rapid test expiration date extension: The iHealth rapid antigen self-test kits have had their expiration dates extended from 6 months to 9 months. This means that these test kits are good for three months past the expiration date listed on the box (Example: 6/22/22 moves to 9/22/22).

The Oregon Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has established the Defensible Space Incentive (DSI) Grant, a one-time, $1,000 grant available to any Oregon public or private school, university or hospital. This grant was created to encourage applicant agencies to improve their landscaping practices and maintain defensible space. Each school and hospital are eligible to apply for a one-time $1,000 disbursement, with a maximum of $5,000 being awarded to each school district. The grant closes on July 1. To apply, email flseadmin@osp.oregon.gov to receive a copy of a grant agreement.

Large tsunamis of past decades have underscored the potential for extreme hazards impacts from these events, but also the scientific challenges that face tsunami researchers and the advancement of their field. The National Academies and the Committee on Solid Earth Geophysics is holding a webinar on the past and future of tsunami research from noon to 1 p.m. on July 5. In this webinar, three experts will survey the broad field of tsunami science that sheds light on both past and recent events. Register at National Academies.

FEMA Region 10 will hold a wildfire preparedness webinar on July 12 from 2-3 p.m. discussing wildfire mitigation and preparedness efforts. Join mitigation, recovery and community preparedness experts to learn what you can do to reduce your wildfire risk and how you can proactively prepare in case you are impacted. Register via Zoom.

Preparing employees for a potential active shooter incident is an integral component of an organization's incident response planning. Because active shooter incidents are unpredictable and evolve quickly, preparing for and knowing what to do in an active shooter situation can be the difference between life and death. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is hosting a security webinar to enhance awareness of and response to an active shooter event from 1-3 p.m. on July 13. Register at EventBrite.

The Scappoose Fire District and the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization (RDPO) will host an Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Public Safety Aviation Program seminar from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on July 19 at the Holiday Inn Waterfront in Portland. The rollout will provide information for agencies interested in starting a UAS program, have a program but need more structure, or agencies looking to follow the FAA regulations to fly under the Statewide Certificate of Waiver or Authorizations (COA). The program is open to fire districts from all over the state to learn more about the Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) training program designed specifically for first responders across the state. Learn more and register at EventBrite.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) created the Oregon Disaster Assistance Program (ODAP) with a $40 million investment from the Oregon Legislature to assist farmers and ranchers who suffered financial losses during one or more of the 2021 disasters. The ODA opened its second round of applications on June 21. Oregon farmers and ranchers may apply for assistance from the remaining pool of about $19.5 million. ODAP applications are available through participating lending institutions. The lenders are accepting applications through July 19; ODAP requirements and eligibility remain the same in the second round. For more information, a sample application, and answers to frequently asked questions, visit ODA’s ODAP webpage.

One of the essential primary elements of emergency management is a commitment to providing equal, accessible and quality service to every individual impacted by disaster – including individuals with access and functional needs (AFN).The National AFN Symposium will bring the disability community together with emergency managers, disaster planners and first responders from across the country in an online forum to foster an environment of trust and understanding vital to advancing the mission of access and functional needs throughout the nation. The symposium will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to noon July 19-20. Learn more and register at EventBrite.

FEMA and the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center have released a research report aimed at helping the agency decrease complexity and improve efficiencies in emergency management. Streamlining Emergency Management: Issues, Impacts, and Options for Improvement provides options for improving management of disaster operations and making better informed investment decisions. Read the full research report at Rand.org.

The U.S. Fire Administration’s national Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Issues and Resolutions Report, issued in June 2022, highlights many issues and concerns that are being featured nationally and globally with respect to the impacts of Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) fires. As wildland fires to grow larger, with increased intensity, and expanded frequency there has arisen a call for action at all levels of government and the private sector to address this ongoing risk to public safety, infrastructure, commerce and the natural environment.