Readiness Report: Do you know your evacuation levels?

Throughout May, OEM has been sharing and amplifying messages from our partners about Wildfire Awareness Month. We’re closing out the month urging everyone to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season by having an evacuation plan.

Please join us in reminding your audiences that taking simple steps to prepare today can make a big difference in being ready when an evacuation occurs. Stay informed, have an emergency plan and make a go-kit are all critical actions. Oregonians should also become familiar with “Be Ready, Be Set, Go!” evacuation levels to make informed decisions when receiving evacuation notices. OEM urges people to evacuate any time they feel unsafe, as conditions can change rapidly. Individuals should always make the best decision for their safety.

Level One (colored green on a map) means “BE READY” to evacuate. Community members should be aware of the danger in their area and stay informed. Check county, city and emergency services websites and local news for information. This is the time to pack and prepare to leave. Check with loved ones and emergency contacts. Reach out to neighbors, share information and ask for help if needed. Some people should consider leaving early if they can’t move quickly and need more time to evacuate, including older adults, families with children, people with disabilities, livestock and pet owners, and those with limited access to transportation.

Level Two (colored yellow on a map) means “BE SET” to evacuate. This level indicates there’s significant danger in the area and community members should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Voluntary evacuation at Level Two is recommended, especially if people need extra time or have livestock to move. Be prepared to relocate to a shelter or with family or friends outside of the affected area. Don’t wait for another evacuation notice if it doesn’t feel safe to stay.

Level Three (colored red on a map) means “GO.” Leave immediately! This level indicates there’s extreme danger in the area and it’s unsafe to stay. Emergency services may not be available to offer further assistance to those who choose to stay. People should not stop to gather their belongings or make any efforts to protect their homes or shelter. Leave without delay.

Following an evacuation, people should not return to the area until public safety officials announce it’s safe.

We’ve posted graphics for the three different levels in the Readiness Resource section of this issue. Please download and share with your audiences and encourage them to find more information and resources at Wildfire.Oregon.gov/prepare.

All my best,

Matt Garrett, Interim Director
Oregon Department of Emergency Management

As part of Wildfire Awareness Month, the Office of State Fire Marshal is hosting a series of webinars geared toward preparing for wildfire. Click the link of the webinar to register.

• May 31: noon-1 p.m. Fire-resistant plants and flammable plants 
• June 14: noon-1 p.m. Public Safety Power Shut-offs 
• June 21: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Fire Season Forecast

Past webinars can be viewed at www.oregon.gov/osp/programs.

OEM’s accounting team will host office hours at 2 p.m. on May 31 to answer questions for submitting and documenting Requests for Reimbursements (RFR) for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants and allow for discussions and problem-solving as subrecipient awardees work through RFR documentation. Join on Microsoft Teams (Meeting ID: 299 758 424 784, Passcode: R9G3i8).

OEM will also be hosting three technical assistance workshops ahead of the SHSP June 15 application deadline to provide additional support to local and tribal applicants. Applicants can share their questions and receive further clarification and instruction from SHSP program coordinator Kevin Jeffries.

10 a.m. on June 1 on Zoom: Meeting ID: 828 9737 6231 | Passcode: 589163
3 p.m. on June 5 on Zoom: Meeting ID: 825 4319 8336 | Passcode: 693819

OEM is hosting a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Development workshop series to assist state agencies in building continuity plans to fulfill Governor Kotek’s directive for agencies to complete plans by Sept. 30. The workshop is a progressive series of four sessions, each building off the material covered in the prior sessions. The intended participants are representatives from Oregon state agencies that are expected to fulfill the requirement to have a continuity plan in accordance with DAS Statewide Policy No: 107- 001-010, effective 2/21/2018.

• Session 1: Introduction to COOP, June 1, 1-4 p.m.
• Session 2: COOP Plan Development, July 6, 1-4 p.m.
• Session 3: COOP Plan Development (Cont.), August 3, 1-4 p.m.
• Session 4: Office Hours, August 24, 1-3 p.m. (virtual only)

The workshops will be offered online and in-person. To attend virtually, participants must have a computer, internet connection and microphone. A link to join virtually will be emailed once registered. The workshops are limited to 75 people to attend in person. The location for the June 1 workshop is DPSST, 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, OR 97317. Learn more and register at https://state-agency-coop-workshop.eventbrite.com.

When many people need healthcare at once, there may not be enough hospital beds, supplies or staff to care for everyone. This can happen during emergencies such as a pandemic or natural disaster. The Oregon Resource Allocation Advisory Committee (ORAAC) is advising the Oregon Health Authority on the development of updated crisis care guidelines. The ORAAC will recommend ways for hospitals and health systems to care for patients in these emergency situations. The committee is interested to know what people in Oregon think about the options being considered. To provide feedback, review the request at www.oregon.gov/oha, then submit public comment by June 2 through the following methods:

• Fill out a survey available in English,  Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Chuukese, Hmong, Arabic, Portuguese and Somali.
• Email OHA.ResourceAllocation@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
• Attend the June ORAAC meetings on June 15 and June 29. Meeting agendas can be found on the ORAAC website. Since time for comment is limited, please sign up in advance to provide public testimony.

The Natural Hazards Center is hosting a series of listening sessions on tribal engagement and Indigenous-led public health disaster research. Understanding the current state of public health among Indigenous populations and in tribal areas is key to identifying future directions for research, strengthening intercultural collaborations, developing engagement strategies and sustaining a community of practice. Four virtual listening sessions are scheduled, followed by a fifth session in person at the 48th Natural Hazards Workshop in July:

Listening Session 1: June 6, 10-11 a.m.
Listening Session 2: June 13, noon-1 p.m.
Listening Session 3: June 20, noon-1 p.m.
Listening Session 4: June 27, 10-11 a.m.
Listening Session 5: July 9, 2:45-4 p.m.

Learn more and to register at www.hazards.colorado.edu.

The Private Sector Preparedness Response and Recovery (PSPR2): Mass Casualty Impact and Recovery seminar series is a nine-part series that shares critical infrastructure best practices, valuable lessons and planning resources and tools to assist with mass casualty impact and recovery. The fourth session will take place from 9-10:30 a.m. on June 15. "When the Crime Tape Comes Down” will address coordinating with law enforcement and other government entities and assisting families through mental health crisis, grief and reunification. This session will explore how to ensure employees are safe and receiving any follow-up support services they may need. Learn more and register at www.eventbrite.com.

Join the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and Oregon State Marine Board from 11:30 a.m. to noon on June 15 on Zoom as they provide safety tips and what you should “know before you go” into the great outdoors. Gain insight into how to recreate safely and responsibly. Presenters will share lessons they’ve learned through their search and rescue experiences and the skills to utilize to locate missing individuals. Whether you're an avid explorer or simply enjoy getting outside, this webinar will help you brush up on outdoor safety so you can be prepared for your next great adventure. Learn more and register at https://fema.zoomgov.com.

The National CERT Conference will be in San Francisco June 29-July 1 (with pre-conference training from June 26-28). The conference theme is CERT 360°, which will highlight CERT's ability to be flexible as a community resource and serve as an inclusive entity to all community members. The conference will feature training and presentations for all levels of CERT, including emergency managers, program managers, instructors, volunteers and CERT partners. Learn more and register at www.nationalcert.org.

The 2023 National Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Symposium will take place virtually from 9 a.m. to noon on July 11 and 12. The free symposium brings the disability community together with emergency managers, disaster planners and first responders from across the country to highlight forward-leaning, inclusive, innovative practices in emergency management and advance the mission of access and functional needs. Learn more and register at www.eventbrite.com.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for economic injury to businesses in eight Oregon counties to offset economic losses caused by drought that began March 15. Counties include Clackamas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Marion, Sherman, Wasco and Wheeler. Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.  The deadline to apply is Jan. 16, 2024. Learn more and apply at www.disasterloanassistance.sba.gov.

The SAFECOM Nationwide Survey (SNS) is a nationwide data collection tool used to advance emergency communications capabilities. SNS results help government officials and emergency responders better understand emergency communications needs so they can make data-driven funding, policy and programmatic decisions to strengthen emergency communications capabilities. Any agency or organization that's charged with a public-safety related mission and uses emergency communications technology is encouraged to take the survey, including ECCs, PSAPs, emergency management, EMS, fire and rescue, and law enforcement. The survey takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and is open through July 21. Take the survey at www.cisa.gov/safecom/safecom-nationwide-survey.

An uptick in false 9-1-1 calls from Android phones is possibly being caused by automatic car crash detection, which Android added as a service last year to its operating system. If the feature is turned on, the Android Safety app will monitor the phone's sensors to detect sudden deceleration and other indicators that might indicate that the caller was in a motor vehicle accident. An alarm will sound, and a countdown timer will appear on the phone to give the user the ability to cancel. If they don't cancel the countdown, the phone will call 9-1-1. This is an important service. However, users whose phones are making multiple false crash detection calls MAY want to consider shutting that feature off on their phone. To do so:

1. Open the app drawer and tap on the Safety app.
   2. Tap on the "features" tab at the bottom of the screen.
   3. Tap on the card that says "Car Crash Detection"
   4. Turn off the car crash detection by tapping the slider controller.

CTIA, a trade association representing the wireless communications industry in the U.S., has created AccessWireless.org, a website designed to help people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, and their families and caretakers find a cell phone and accessible wireless devices and services. AccessWireless.org is designed to be a “first stop” to learn about the ever-changing world of cell phones and wireless devices and services and discover those that meet specific needs. The site helps users find a phone using filters including hearing, vision, mobility, speech, cognition, seniors and veterans. Learn more at https://www.accesswireless.org/.

Congratulations to OEM Interagency Strategic Recovery Program Manager Shawna Jepson, who was recognized by Governor Tina Kotek as a Public Service Ambassador for the state during the 2023 Public Service Recognition Week! Jepson maintains the primary responsibility as the State Disaster Recovery Coordinator for the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires. She coordinates all state and federal resources that continue to support wildfire survivor recovery efforts. She's a devoted advocate for the survivors facing some of their most challenging circumstances over two and half years later. The cases she takes on are some of the most challenging and have exhausted all other resources or assistance programs. 

Jepson continually represents OEM and the state with a commitment to providing the services Oregonians across the state need most, making a difference every day. With this recognition, Jepsen joins an exemplary group of public servants whose work and dedication has gone above and beyond!

Pictured: Shawna Jepson, center, at the 2023 VOAD Conference with two of the FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons who assisted with establishing the Long-Term Recovery Groups from the 2020 wildfires.