Readiness Report: All the emergency management updates you need

Patence Winningham has joined the Oregon Department of Emergency Management as its permanent deputy director. Winningham previously served as Lane County Emergency Manager since 2019 after having worked with the City of Eugene as an emergency management specialist for more than a decade. Winningham has extensive experience in disaster preparedness, including leading Lane County’s response and communication with the state Emergency Coordination Center during a 2019 historic winter storm, followed by another federal disaster declaration due to flooding in April 2019. When the COVID-19 Pandemic arrived in early 2020, she worked with the county to engage FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers to establish a 42-bed COVID recovery center designed to care for some of the most vulnerable people in Lane County. She went on to lead Lane County’s response to the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire, which placed both her family and her home in danger. She has additionally supported the response to the 2022 Cedar Creek Fire and emergency planning efforts for multiple Olympic Trials and the World Athletics Championship. Deputy Director Winningham will directly support the agency’s newly appointed interim director, Erin McMahon, whom Governor Kotek appointed in August to lead the department. The Oregon Senate will take up McMahon’s confirmation as permanent director next week.

OEM is kicking off the planning process for an October 2024 State-Level Exercise (SLE), IronOR 24. This four-day functional exercise will bring state, local, tribal, public, private and non-profit partners throughout Oregon together to practice their collective response capabilities during a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake scenario. The Initial Planning Meeting will take place on Sept. 25 to address a more detailed exercise planning timeline with key build-up activities and specific exercise objectives. Extent of Play Agreements (XPAs) have been distributed for local and tribal partners to complete that establish intent and expectations for participation in the IronOR 24 Exercise. Additionally, a virtual EOP seminar will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. on Oct. 9 to share the recently updated State of Oregon Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) Base Plan. Please reach out to oem.exercise@oem.oregon.gov with any questions.

Sept. 25 marks “If You See Something, Say Something®” Awareness Day, also known as #SeeSayDay. On this day, DHS and its campaign partners come together to spread the word about suspicious activity reporting. #SeeSayDay is a national awareness campaign that encourages the public to recognize and report terrorism-related suspicious activity to local authorities. Factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity are not suspicious. On Sept. 25, use the campaign’s #SeeSayDay social media graphics on social media accounts and use the hashtag #SeeSayDay in posts. Click here to learn more and download campaign resources.

On Aug. 9, FEMA reactivated its Validate As You Go (VAYGo) process to improve its grants management internal controls. The reactivation comes after a brief pause in April 2022 to conduct listening sessions with stakeholders and identify ways to enhance the VAYGo testing process. FEMA is now hosting four webinars to provide information and guidance related to the reimplementation of the VAYGo process. The webinars are tailored to meet the needs of state, local and territorial stakeholders; tribal partners; private non-profits; and those who prefer to receive information in Spanish. These webinars will benefit those that have current FEMA Public Assistance projects or may be eligible to receive FEMA Public Assistance federal fund in future events. 

Noon on Sept. 26: English webinar for tribal partners
Noon on Sept. 27: English webinar for state, local and territorial partners
Noon on Sept. 28: English webinar for private nonprofit partners
https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1612383427 (Passcode: 564825)

10 a.m. on Sept. 29: Spanish webinar
https://fema.zoomgov.com/j/1612784686 (Passcode: 139893)

Older Americans are often the target of online and telemarketing scams – and natural disasters provide the perfect environment for scammers to move in. Join FEMA Region 2 National Preparedness Division from 10-11 a.m. on Sept. 27 for a webinar on scams targeting older adults before, during and after disasters. This webinar, presented by an attorney from the Federal Trade Commission’s Northeast Regional Office, will help you to identify common types of frauds and scams that target older Americans, focusing in particular on scams related to weather emergencies, COVID-19 and other disasters, and provide guidance on how to protect yourself from those scams. Click here to register.

Held every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is a time to educate about disability employment issues and celebrate the many contributions of workers with disabilities. The 2023 NDEAM theme is Advancing Access and Equity. NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), but its true spirit lies in the many observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year. This year, the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, the State Rehabilitation Council, the Oregon Commission for the Blind and the Oregon Department of Education organized a series of in-person and virtual events to celebrate NDEAM. Click here for details on each session and accessibility information.

FEMA, in coordination with the FCC, has scheduled a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) at 11:20 a.m. PDT on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The EAS portion of the test is scheduled to last approximately one minute and will be conducted with the participation of radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers and wireline video providers. The test message will state: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public."

The WEA test will be sent to all mobile phones nationwide. Beginning at approximately 11:20 a.m., cell towers will broadcast the test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, WEA-compatible wireless phones that are switched on, within range of an active cell tower, and whose wireless provider participates in WEA, should be capable of receiving the test message. All wireless phones should receive the message only once. The message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.” Phones with the main menu set to Spanish will display: “ESTA ES UNA PRUEBA del Sistema Nacional de Alerta de Emergencia. No se necesita acción.” Read the full press release from FEMA here.

The Oregon Cyber Resilience Summit (OCRS) will be held Oct. 4, during National Cybersecurity Awareness month. The annual capstone event is designed to strengthen relationships, enhance the capabilities of the Information Technology (IT), Operational Technology (OT) and cyber workforce, and share best practices and lessons learned by promoting cybersecurity and innovation priorities. The Summit’s goal is to share expertise and knowledge about tools and services that promote a more secure and resilient community, and combat the risks associated with cyber threats affecting all critical infrastructure sectors and our society as a whole. Click here to learn more and register.  

ODEM has announced the opening for pre-applications for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) FY2023. Jon Wiebe is the Deputy State Hazard Mitigation Officer who will be leading this year's BRIC and FMA grant round. Click here to read the announcement and process for FY2023 as well as the pre-application that is to be completed.  Once the pre-application is completed, please email it to oem.hazardmitigation@oem.oregon.gov by Oct. 16.

The Earth is nearing the peak of Sunspot Cycle 25 (Solar Max) and this means there is a very high number of sunspots that can send highly energized particles hurling through space. Though most of these events are directed away from Earth, some are occasionally aimed in its direction. With this comes a wide variety of conditions that may affect the planet. Some may give a show of the Northern Lights at lower latitudes or interrupt satellite and HF radio communications. Some may be so strong that they could cause power grid failures. Click here to learn more about space weather and signup for notifications at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

The University of Oregon is leading a new earthquake research center, which will receive $15 million from the National Science Foundation to study the Cascadia Subduction Zone. The Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center (CRESCENT) will unite scientists from 16 institutions to research the complex dynamics of a major subduction zone earthquake. By developing tools to better forecast local and regional impacts, CRESCENT will empower communities to improve their emergency plans and infrastructure. Input from impacted communities will guide research priorities, and CRESCENT scientists will collaborate with public agencies and private industry to ensure their research can be translated into policy and action. The center will also help train the next generation of geoscientists by engaging with minority-serving and tribal high schools and supporting undergraduate research. Click here to learn more.

Business Oregon's Seismic Rehabilitation Grant Program (SRGP) is a state of Oregon competitive grant program that provides funding for the seismic rehabilitation of critical public buildings, particularly public schools and emergency services facilities. The SRGP is accepting applications now through 5 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2024. There is $55 million available for school projects and $25 million for emergency service projects. The maximum award for the seismic program is $2.5 million per building. The goal is to be able to announce awards for this round of funding by the end of May 2024. Click here to learn more and apply.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) recently released several publications offering guidance for caregivers, law enforcement and other first responders in the event a child on the autism spectrum goes missing. Understanding Children on the Autism Spectrum: A Guide for First Responders provides recommendations for how law enforcement and other first responders can best support these children. The Search Protocols and Questionnaire for First Responders provides initial response guidance, considerations for search and rescue, recovery and reunification guidance, and a model questionnaire that first responders can use to gather information from families and caregivers. Tips for Caregivers offers a comprehensive set of preparedness and response actions for parents and caregivers. It emphasizes the importance of proactively establishing a relationship with local law enforcement so that law enforcement knows the child and is familiar with the child’s needs.

The American Red Cross is experiencing a national blood shortage. Blood product distributions to hospitals are outpacing the number of blood donations coming in. Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, and there is an emergency need for platelet donors and type O blood donors to make an appointment to give now to ensure patients across the country continue to receive critical medical care. Schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).  

Following the devastating wildfires on the island of Maui, the state of Hawaii reached out through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) seeking support and technical assistance to ESF-6 mass care operations and coordination during recovery operations. EMAC offers assistance during governor-declared states of emergency or disaster through a responsive, straightforward system that allows states to send personnel, equipment and commodities to assist with response and recovery efforts in other states. ODHS/OREM sent eight people to the Maui County EOC for an original 14-day mission that has been extended through 9/28; the agency’s mass care shower units have been extended through 11/16. The Oregon National Guard deployed a public affairs officer as one of five national PAOs to support Hawaii on a 20-day mission, serving from Sept. 15 through Oct. 6. And ODF will deploy a finance person to serve from Oct. 16 to Nov. 5. Click here to learn more about EMAC.

Small nonfarm businesses in Clackamas, Columbia, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Wasco, Washington and Yamhill are eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought. 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. Click here to see deadlines, apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications.

Jon Wiebe

Deputy State Hazard Mitigation Officer
Mitigation Section
Office 503-934-3255
Cell 971-719-0988
jon.wiebe@oem.oregon.gov

Jon joined OEM as a Hazard Mitigation Program Representative in December 2022, after working as a contractor implementing grant programs on Department of State and USAID foreign assistance projects in Africa and the Middle and Near East. As a Mitigation Program Representative, he worked to assist the State Hazard Mitigation Officer administer FEMA HMA Grants. In August 2023, Jon was promoted to Deputy State Hazard Mitigation Officer where he focuses on non-disaster FEMA HMA Grants, including the upcoming FY2023 BRIC/FMA round, prior year BRIC/FMA activities, and portfolio management of assigned post-disaster grants. He’s looking forward to BRIC FY2023 and the next iteration of activities that improve Oregon’s resilience. An avid traveler, he’s just eight visits away from earning his world traveler badge of 42 countries.

Central Point Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) leader Kirby Wheeler gave a presentation to 15 residents at The Springs at Veranda Park in Medford on Sept. 8 during National Preparedness Month. The facility contacted him to provide preparedness education to the residents. He covered a variety of important topics, including why they should prepare for a disaster; making a plan for shelter-in-place and evacuation; exercising the plan; connecting with neighbors before a disaster; safety during an evacuation; ways to reduce or overcome stress; and local services that will help them prepare. He emphasized that no one is coming after a disaster; it is up to the individual to be prepared to survive. The presentation was well-received by the audience. Thanks, Kirby, and to all the CERT members helping prepare our communities!

OEM has two regionally focused teams serving as dedicated points of contact across six regions of the state to support local and tribal emergency managers through all areas of emergencies and disasters. OEM’s Portland Metro Regional Preparedness and Response Coordinator Morgan West attended several events and exercises in his region throughout September. On Sept. 17, Clackamas County Disaster Management (CCDM) Interim Director Daniel Nibouar and Program Supervisor for Clackamas County Development Agency Dan Johnson (top left) spoke to the media during a community meeting addressing air quality concerns following a fire at a large building known to contain asbestos. West was present throughout the incident at CCDM’s request to provide support and coordination to other local and state agencies.

On Sept. 19, West joined a gathering of water utility providers and healthcare institutions from around the Portland Metro area (top right) in a facilitated tabletop exercise discussing issues around potential disruptions to potable water supplies following a catastrophic event.

On Sept. 21, West attended a worst-case discharge drill sponsored by the Marine Firefighting & Safety Association (bottom). This drill, which focused on the response to a significant oil spill in the Willamette River, brought together more than 130 participants from dozens of local, state and federal agencies. West acted as an Assistant Liaison Officer, and OEM’s Exercise Specialist Zach Glenn evaluated the drill along with counterparts from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.