Weekly Watch: Preparedness is a gift

Sung to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas."

🎵This holiday season, my EM said to me…

Document and insure your property

Get involved in your community

Gather and update supplies

Know evacuation routes

Make your home safer

Get to know your neighbors

Safeguard your documents

Test your family communications plan

Practice emergency drills

Make an emergency plan

Sign up for alerts and warnings

And be aware of hazards in your area 🎵

There are many ways to prepare before a disaster occurs. Preparedness doesn’t have to be expensive, and it doesn’t have to come wrapped with a bow. This holiday season, encourage your networks to give the gift of preparedness by sharing any or all of the actions above. Happy Holidays!

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

Oregon Health Authority is making expired personal protective equipment that can no longer be stored at state warehouses available at no charge to organizations that may be able to use or stockpile it. All PPE made available through this effort has been marked expired by the manufacturer. Available PPE includes N95 masks, disposable masks, face shields, children’s masks and gowns. These items will only be available in pallet quantities. Orders will be fulfilled until supplies are adequately reduced, and priority will be given to organizations able to pick up supplies from the warehouse, though requests for delivery will be considered. Click here to learn more and submit a request.

Oregon’s hospitals and many other organizations and community members are confronting a surge in respiratory viruses, such as RSV, flu and COVID. In an effort tto make PPE broadly available to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses this season, OHA is distributing a new request form so partners can request PPE directly from the OHA stockpile. This PPE is NOT expired, unlike the equipment described in the story above. Items include masks, respirators, face coverings, gloves, gowns and face shields, which may be requested by the case or pallet. There are no restrictions on the type of organization that can request the PPE. Click here to learn more and submit a request.

Did you know the top three days of the year for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year’s Day and New Year's Eve? The U.S. Fire Administration's holiday fire safety social media toolkit features content to share on Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels to increase awareness about fire safety during the winter holiday season. The images are free, high-resolution stock safety images for use in outreach, training and other materials. Content can be copied or customized to reach specific audiences.

FEMA is seeking feedback from state, local, tribal and territorial stakeholders and the general public on how communities use hazard mitigation funding through the Public Assistance Program. Public comments can be submitted through Dec. 21. PA applicants may apply for hazard mitigation funding to increase the resilience of disaster-damaged facilities. The purpose of the funding is to provide assistance for cost-effective hazard mitigation measures that reduce the potential for future damage to a facility from a disaster event. PA mitigation is in addition to any code and standard upgrade requirements. Click here to learn more and complete the survey.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin on Nov. 30 focusing on lone offenders and small groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs or personal grievances who pose a persistent and lethal threat to the U.S. The bulletin highlights several upcoming events that could be exploited by threat actors to justify or commit acts of violence, including certifications related to the midterm elections; the holiday season and associated large gatherings; and the marking of two years since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. DHS’ Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative offers free online Suspicious Activity Reporting training for fire and EMS personnel, law enforcement, public health and healthcare partners, emergency managers and public safety telecommunicators.

AmeriCorps has announced the 2023 AmeriCorps Seniors Native Nations and Indigenous Elders Senior Demonstration Program notice of funding opportunity to support programs promoting the preservation and teaching of Native and Indigenous languages and cultural practices; provide social, economic and educational services to tribal nations and Indigenous people; advance equity in areas such as food sovereignty, climate change and conservation and mental health services; provide veterans and military families, caregivers and survivors' quality of life; and create workforce pathways for older adults. Tribal-affiliated organizations that engage older adults in volunteerism are eligible to apply, including federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native Nations, higher-education institutions, state, local and territorial governments, and nonprofit, faith-based and tribal organizations. The application deadline is 2 p.m. on April 5, 2023. Click here to learn more about grant criteria and technical assistance opportunities, including how to submit an application.