Readiness Report: What OEM's agency budget means for emergency management in Oregon

I’m pleased to share that House Bills 5017 and 3059 were passed by the Oregon State Senate on June 23 (the Oregon House passed HB 5017 on June 7 and HB 3059 on June 14); both bills now head to the Governor for her signature. House Bill 5017, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management Legislatively Adopted Budget for 2023-2025, represents a 2.4% increase in total funds and a 22.2% increase in General Fund from the current service level. Additionally, the bill included a one-time carryover of $2 million General Fund for a grants management database and the construction of the Emergency Coordination Center; and a carryover of $20 million for Hazard Mitigation Grant funding provided by the Emergency Board in September 2022 for the cities of Echo and Wallowa.

The agency budget granted authority for an additional 37 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. We plan to invest in dedicated staff for the Emergency Coordination Center; positions for the transfer of the Oregon Emergency Response System from the Department of State Police on July 1, 2025; additional regional coordinator positions for Mitigation and Recovery and Preparedness and Response; extensions of several limited duration (LD) positions; and positions to address organizational gaps that existed in the establishment of the new agency. We plan to carefully consider the agency’s needs and use the discretion provided in the bill to finalize how all positions are used. We also received a fund shift of 17 positions within the agency to ensure positions are funded appropriately to align with the work being performed.

House Bill 3059 creates new emergency management support programs to strengthen the state’s disaster response capabilities. The bill established an Oregon Disaster Response Assistance Matching Fund in the Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. The monies in this fund are continuously appropriated to our department to meet the state match requirements for federal grants or other federal aid received to provide disaster assistance to local governments. The fund can also provide direct disaster response assistance to local communities. The bill created a compliance division within our agency to ensure compliance with requirements and regulations relating to monies received from the federal government and provided five FTE positions to resource these oversight activities. This bill benefits both the agency and our local partners by maximizing the return on federal dollars and ensuring locals and tribes have the technical resources they need to meet their compliance obligations required by this agency and the federal government.

This budget – our first as a standalone department – is a step forward in the evolution of our agency. We truly appreciate the confidence the Oregon legislature has shown us. Now, it’s our responsibility to repay this confidence by implementing the programs and investments embedded in the budget. To achieve our mission and take on the expectations people have of this new department, I believe we must continue to evolve and remain vigilant and determined in our efforts to ensure we are resourced appropriately to be the most effective and efficient agency we can be. We’re focused on adding resources to ensure better local collaboration with our partners and make sure we, as an agency, are providing the support needed at the local level. The hiring of two new regional coordinators is an example of how we’re looking to augment the work of our existing regional professionals, increase local coordination, and offer greater support for the local communities and our tribal partners.

We can now do more with state funds and the local match ensures we can support our communities even when we don’t have federal disasters. These two bills enhance the professionals and the functions performed at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, which in turn strengthens the emergency management ecosystem for the state.

All the best,

Matt Garrett, Interim Director
Oregon Department of Emergency Management

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "If You See Something, Say Something®" public awareness campaign is hosting an interactive webinar for people to learn how to help protect public spaces and mass gatherings. Join "Summer Safety: Resources to Protect Public Spaces & Mass Gatherings" from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on June 29. Register at Webex.

The campaign also offers a package of pre-developed translated materials available for download in more than 15 languages to provide meaningful access for individuals with limited English proficiency. Posters, digital graphics and social media graphics are included in each download bundle. The campaign’s full library of translated materials can be found at dhs.gov/publication/seesay-translated-materials.

The Pacific Region ADA Update Conference will be held Aug. 22-23 in Phoenix, Ariz., with a virtual option. Early bird registration is available until June 30. One presentation, “Independent Living and Emergency Management” will cover how independent living for people with disabilities connects with emergency management requirements for state and local governments under the ADA. A panel of three experts will explore the topic. Learn more and register at adapacific.org.

Join FEMA Region 2 from 10:30 a.m. to noon on July 6 for a discussion concerning the dangers of extreme heat and its impact on people, animals and communities. The National Weather Service will provide useful information about the science of extreme heat, its effects on weather and discuss alerts and warnings. A representative from the University of Puerto Rico will discuss extreme heat’s impacts and challenges to island life, infrastructure and post-disaster reconstruction. The New York City Department of Health will discuss impacts on people, pets, risk factors concerning vulnerable populations, urban heat islands and effects on health and infrastructure and mitigating strategies. FEMA will conclude the webinar with helpful hints and mitigating actions everyone should know to be better prepared for extreme heat and improve chances for lessening the impacts to people, pets, and communities. The webinar is designed for the whole community. Learn more and register: Extreme Heat Preparedness Webinar.

OEM is continuing its 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 sessions, each building off the material covered in the prior sessions. As attendees are requested to attend all three dates, this notice is a reminder for those who already attended the June 1 session. Click here for a recording of the June 1 workshop (passcode: DF@8=&7q).

• Session 2: COOP Plan Development, July 6, 1-4 p.m. 
• Session 3: COOP Plan Development continued, August 3, 1-4 p.m.

Learn more and register at https://state-agency-coop-workshop.eventbrite.com.

Applications for the FY 2023 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) are now available and due July 24. OEM is offering office hours to explain the application and answer questions on Zoom from 2-3 p.m. on July 10; 11 a.m.-noon on July 13; and 9-10 a.m. on July 19 (Meeting ID: 860 8810 7498 Passcode: 654757). The EMPG program provides funds to assist state, local, tribal and territorial emergency management agencies implement the National Preparedness System and support the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. All application information can be found under the Grants section on OEM’s website.

The 2023 National Access and Functional Needs (AFN) Symposium will take place virtually from 9 a.m. to noon on July 11-12. 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 Eventbrite.com. 

FEMA's National Integration Center is seeking public feedback on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Guideline for Mutual Aid. NIMS is a key component of the national incident management capabilities and enables organizations from across the nation to work together during incidents of all kinds and sizes. The NIMS Guideline for Mutual Aid provides guidance on different types of mutual aid agreements, the key elements of a mutual aid agreement and the key elements of mutual aid operational plans used for implementation. Access the draft NIMS Guideline for Mutual Aid and Comment Matrix on FEMA’s website. Provide comments on the draft no later than 2 p.m. on July 12.

The FEMA Region 10 Youth Preparedness Council is holding a Zoom workshop from 2-3 p.m. on July 12 to discuss Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Stop the Bleed, and how to apply these trainings to wildfires preparedness and response. This workshop is targeted for teens in 8th-12th grade, but all are welcome. Register at zoomgov.com.

The Oregon Health Authority AmeriCorps VISTA Program is recruiting for 16 AmeriCorps VISTA and two VISTA Leader positions in Oregon for the August 2023-2024 cohort. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time, 40 hours per week in a capacity-building role in statewide organizations, local public health departments, tribal governments, or non-profits across Oregon. AmeriCorps members with OHA focus their efforts on building the organizational, administrative and financial capacity of organizations that improve health services. Learn more at OHA AmeriCorps VISTA Positions by Region; applications are due by July 14.

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 fifth session will take place from 9-10:30 a.m. on July 20. One of the hardest challenges to overcome in the aftermath of a mass casualty event is reestablishing a sense of safety and normalcy. As difficult as it may be, returning and reopening is necessary for most businesses. Session 5 will guide participants through the process of returning to business following a mass casualty event. Learn more and register with Eventbrite.

Join FEMA from 11:30 a.m. to noon on July 27 for an engaging webinar on Neighborhood Preparedness. The presentation will highlight the ongoing work being done by residents to build resilient communities in Washington and Alaska. The Hood Canal Improvement Club and Alaska CERT members will talk about how they promote neighborhood preparedness and what to do to get started. Register at zoomgov.com.

OEM’s training program has announced two upcoming virtual office hours to talk about the direction and development of the state training program, including the rollout of the National Qualification System (NQS) this fall. The events will take place from 9-11 a.m. Aug. 17 and 9-11 a.m. Nov. 16. Anyone with specific questions or concerns they’d like addressed at the office hours is encouraged to email oem.training@oem.oregon.gov in advance.     

Oregon has been selected to host a National U.S. Coast Guard Basic Inland Search and Rescue (SAR) Course class in conjunction with the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. The class will be held Nov. 14-16 in the state Emergency Coordination Center in Salem. This course is targeted toward U.S. Coast Guard, Civil Air Patrol, local SAR team members and those who would be an Incident Commander in a SAR environment. Learn more and register at forcecom.uscg.mil.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for economic injury to businesses in five Oregon counties to offset economic losses caused by drought that began April 15. Counties include Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lake and Lane. 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 Feb. 12, 2024. Learn more and apply at www.disasterloanassistance.sba.gov.

EPA’s Office of Research and Development is making available specific air monitoring technologies for loan to state, local and tribal air organizations to support supplemental air monitoring in areas affected by wildfire smoke and with observational data coverage gaps. The Wildfire Smoke Air Monitoring Response Technology (WSMART) pilot is part of a federal government response to address the growing threat of wildfires and related smoke impacts that are a public health concern in the United States. In many areas affected by wildfire smoke, air monitoring data may be limited or absent. Supplemental monitoring technologies can help air monitoring organizations gather timely data to assess smoke impacts and provide public health information. State, local or tribal air organization representatives can request one or multiple air monitors by filling out an Air Monitor Request Form. 

Oregon Health Authority has launched the Oregon ESSENCE Summer Hazard Report dashboard, which contains interactive graphs showing total daily counts of emergency department and urgent care center visits in Oregon associated with four injury and illness categories: heat-related illness, water submersion events, wildfire-related smoke inhalation and air quality-related respiratory illness. The summer hazards dashboard allows users to hover over a section of the interactive graphs in each category to view the number of emergency department or urgent care clinic visits by date. Users can also select data sets by year, going back to 2018. The dashboard page under each tab also contains a description of the injury or illness, the groups most at risk, and how it can be treated or prevented. The dashboard will be updated weekly through the summer.

The National Weather Service Portland office has released several recorded presentations on YouTube, including a 2023 Summer Outlook Briefing; a demonstration on how to set up an iNWS account; a demonstration on how to submit a spot forecast, a specialized forecast for a specific location that can provide 36 hours of information for that isolated area; and information on extreme heat and NWS HeatRisk tools.

To better prepare Oregonians for wildfire and give them resources to help create defensible space, the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has launched the Oregon Defensible Space Program. The program includes a new website offering Oregon-specific wildfire preparedness best practices, resources for download and an in-person defensible space property assessment request portal. Homeowners and renters can request free one-on-one property walkthroughs to receive voluntary recommendations to create improvements and follow best practices for their homes.

Economically and socially marginalized communities in Oregon bear the brunt of climate-related extreme events, such as heat waves, droughts and wildfires. A new Oregon Health Authority report, Climate and Health in Oregon 2021-2022, shows that communities of color, tribal communities, individuals with lower incomes, older adults, people with disabilities, outdoor workers, and the under- or uninsured experience more health issues as a result of these climate events. The report highlights the health effects of various extreme climate events in Oregon in the past two years, including heat waves causing deaths among older adults, those with low incomes and non-white populations. The report also outlines recent investments by the Oregon Legislature to enhance climate and health resilience, including funding for community-based organizations, grants for creating climate-resilient homes, support for tribal public health systems and the supply of air conditioners and air purifiers through Oregon's Medicaid coverage.

Recent reports and research have highlighted the unique impacts of disasters and pandemics on LGBTQ+ people from preparedness to response and recovery, emphasizing that the needs of this community must be considered in emergency planning. Overarching barriers that disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ people before disasters may be exacerbated during and after disasters. FEMA and Out for Sustainability offer three excellent resources to learn more about how to help:

• Out for Sustainability Report on Equitable and Inclusive Emergency Management for LGBTQIA Communities
• Helping LGBTQIA+ Survivors Before Disasters: Preparedness and Mitigation Considerations
• Helping LGBTQ+ Survivors After Disasters: Response and Recovery Considerations

OR-Alert is the statewide alerting system provided to local jurisdictions and state agencies through an Interagency/Intergovernmental Agreement between the DAS EIS Statewide Interoperability Program and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. OR-Alert is governed by a collaborative committee made up of state, county and municipal emergency managers; public safety leaders; state agency and tribal representatives; and other stakeholders from across the state and all levels of government. The system is used for public alerting and continuity of operations alerting. OR-Alert is currently deployed within 35 counties, two tribes and 20 state agencies. Nearly 4,500 emergency managers, state employees and 911 telecommunicators have been trained to use the system, which has been used over 5,000 times to alert the public to a variety of situations including wildfire evacuations, AMBER alerts, law enforcement emergencies, boil water notices and many others. All Oregonians are encouraged to sign up or update their information at ORAlert.gov.