A roundup of information for the emergency management community

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee for Oregon DHS identifies gaps in services and makes policy recommendations to the ODHS Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services. The committee also has an Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee that offers recommendations and practical input for emergency management teams regarding best practices and resources to meet the communication needs of people who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing and their families. The subcommittee helps resource effective assistive technology devices for communication and implements the best ways for these populations to receive essential messages during all public broadcasts. The subcommittee may be available to help coordinate communication with the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing people in your area to participate in exercises or trainings with staff and CERT volunteers. Connect and learn more by emailing odhhs.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov.

State, local, tribal and other whole community partners can receive technical assistance and support for exercises, at no cost, from expert exercise specialists in FEMA's National Exercise Division. Exercise Support Requests are due March 1, 2024. Notifications of decisions will occur no later than June 30, 2024. Learn from FEMA’s exercise specialists about how the exercise support request process works and what information you need to submit a complete request for support by attending an informational webinar. Register for one of the following scheduled community webinars (all webinars will cover the same content, so participants only need to attend one session).

• Jan. 9, 2024, 11 a.m.
• Jan. 11, 2024, 8 a.m.
• Jan. 16, 2024, 11 a.m.
• Jan. 18, 2024, 7 a.m.
• Jan. 22, 2024, 11 a.m.
• Jan. 24, 2024, 8 a.m.

Parts of North America will experience a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Unlike in 2017, Oregon will not be anywhere near the path of totality, which ranges from southwest Texas to eastern Canada. However, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently released a Solar Eclipse Communications Planning and Resource Guide that summarizes challenges identified in the after-action reporting that followed the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse in which several small communities were overwhelmed in the transportation, communications, and emergency services sectors when unplanned and uncontrolled population movements migrated quickly into areas not designed for large crowds. CISA compiled this guide to assist state, local, and tribal agencies in pre-planning for communications issues and help mitigate shortfalls and close gaps.

After an earthquake, it may be very unsafe to enter buildings. No one should enter a building until major aftershocks have ended and the building has been inspected. The Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization (RDPO)’s Regional Building Disaster Assessment Project has developed several public-facing resources (click on the link then scroll to the bottom of the page) where people can learn more about post-earthquake building safety. These resources have been both translated and interpreted for accessibility.

The Natural Hazards Center held a Making Mitigation Work seminar earlier this month discussing the findings of a new report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Climate Change Impacts on Children’s Health and Well-Being in the U.S. The report considered five climate change-related stressors—heat, air quality, changes in seasonality, infectious disease and flooding—to provide projections of how each stressor might impact children across the country under different levels of warming. Watch the recording of the seminar to learn how the report’s findings can be applied to develop effective and equitable strategies for protecting current and future generations of children.

The Portland National Weather Service (NWS) office will be testing out a new methodology during the 2023-24 winter season to better communicate uncertainty in the precipitation type forecast. NWS will continue to provide a single snow level forecast but, instead of a rain/snow mix always being in the 500 to 1,000 feet layer below the snow level, it will change depending on the amount of variability shown in the weather models. This new methodology will show, for example, the snow level around 5,000 feet, but will include all snow above 7,000 feet, a rain/snow mix between 1,000 and 7,000 feet, and all rain below 1,000 feet. This is an effort to communicate some of the uncertainty surrounding the type of precipitation that will fall at any given location.

2020 Labor Day disaster survivors can receive assistance from the Homeowner Assistance and Reconstruction Program (HARP) administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). The program is part of ReOregon, which is funded by a $422 million Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HARP assistance will help low- and moderate-income homeowners who still need to repair, rebuild or replace their homes. Those who have already completed repairs or rebuilding may be reimbursed in a future phase of HARP, if funds are still available. OHCS will begin accepting applications for HARP by the end of March 2024. The agency has partnered with community-based organizations to support the launch of HARP. Survivors can stay up to date on ReOregon programs in various stages of development by signing up for email updates.

FEMA has released its 12th annual National Preparedness Report, which provides an overview of the nation’s current disaster risk and capability landscape and outlines progress toward achieving the national preparedness goal of a secure and resilient country. This year’s report continues to highlight the reality of rising costs, frequency and severity of disasters due to climate change as a challenge being faced across all levels of government. From analyzing 2022 data and looking at trends over decades, FEMA identified preparedness for ongoing community-level risk factors from large-scale disasters and cyber threats, gaps in individual and household preparedness and the lack of building code adoption as key areas for improvement to increase national resilience. 

The Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup (CREW) has a new episode in its Ready to Recover podcast series. The most recent episode focuses on disaster recovery challenges and solutions for small businesses. Four guest experts unpack these issues, explaining what happens to small businesses in the wake of a disaster and offering thought-provoking insights and ideas for solutions. The podcast explores issues that are relevant to a wide audience — from disaster preparedness specialists and community planners to insurance professionals and small-business owners.

Flood events are becoming more frequent and more severe, threatening to overwhelm state and local government agencies' available capacity to respond. There is a growing need for emergency managers to adapt to climate change and the increasing threat of flood events. Live flood intelligence and dynamic GIS solutions can help emergency managers to be innovative and adaptive at a time when a disaster strikes. Learn more at the next installment of the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)’s EMpowerment e-Learning series, sponsored by FloodMapp. The webinar will take place at 11 a.m. on Jan. 10. Registration is required.

OEM has released a new flood dashboard that visualizes information coming from NOAA on possible flooding within the state. This dashboard also links to OEM’s main hazard situation overview application. The new flood dashboard includes information regarding forecasts for three and eight days. The information comes from the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction service. OEM has narrowed the data down to gages within the state. Users can find details for these gages as well as hydrographs that predict when these areas will reach their peak height.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign recently released a new awareness video for its campaign partners and the general public. The new video highlights the campaign’s mission, educates the public on signs that may indicate a potential nexus to terrorism, and how to report suspicious activity to appropriate local authorities.

The Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) has created the Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities Resource Hub with videos, flyers, webpage links, and an updated version of the Ready Now! Emergency Preparedness Tool Kit available to download, print and hand out. Before printing, a fillable page in Section 12 includes a place to list local resources. OHSU UCEDD is hosting a webinar on Jan. 23, 2024, to share the Hub and Ready Now Tool Kit resources with people with disabilities and their families.

FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) brings teens together from across the country who are passionate about emergency preparedness and making a difference in their communities. Council members are selected based on involvement in extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and interest in preparedness and emergency management. Students in grades 8 through 11 are eligible to apply. YPC members share ideas and feedback with FEMA, collaborate to develop preparedness project proposals, and build their leadership and emergency management skills. The next application period will open January 2024

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small nonfarm businesses in select Oregon counties of three upcoming deadlines to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan:

Dec. 21, 2023: Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Lane and Linn counties for economic injury caused by drought.

Jan. 4, 2024: For Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties for economic injury caused by the Mill Fire that occurred from Sept. 2-13, 2022.

Jan. 16, 2024: Clackamas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jefferson, Marion, Sherman, Wasco and Wheeler counties for economic injury caused by drought.

Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659‑2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

The Eugene-Springfield CERT program recently held its regional CERT Basics Light Search and Rescue (LSAR) exercise, which provides team members with hands-on training through real-world experience, helping them be more prepared when disaster strikes. City of Eugene Emergency Management Program Manager Sierra Anderson helped create the exercise with the Oregon State Fire Marshal at the Eugene Springfield Fire Department’s personal training facility. CERT teams were guided through a pitch-black building while being instructed on how to locate and give aid to injured individuals. Several CERT teams from outside city limits were invited to learn the skills needed to help in search and rescue operations. According to Benton County CERT Program Manager Cheslah Barkdoll, two attendees from her program attended and learned a great deal, including takeaways to improve their own program. Local media station KEZI covered the event; watch the video here.

Randall Hamar (He/Him/The Randall)
Creative Director
Strategic Communication & Partnerships Section
Cell 503-983-4774
randy.e.hamar@oem.oregon.gov

As OEM’s Creative Director, Randall – or Randy – is the creator and manager of OEM’s brand image. His role is to visually tell the brand’s story clearly and effectively. As a brand ambassador, he makes sure OEM’s finished deliverables reflect the highest level of professionalism, whether on a PowerPoint presentation, a social media infographic or the building’s monument signage. He serves as the agency photographer, capturing team portraits and covering special events; and as the publications manager, creating, visually editing and ordering all OEM publications and fulfilling requests from partners. Randy previously served as a Senior Graphic Designer for Nike from 1983-1997, during which time he worked on the Air Jordan line; he was responsible for creating the side panel, sole and tongue patch graphics on the Air Jordan 8 that are still being produced today. He also created the interlocking “SC” logo used by the University of Southern California and was featured in Print Magazine’s “Best T-Shirt Promotions” edition. The Randall is the direct decedent of an Oregon Pioneer family that was first to settle in the area near Eddyville, just west of Corvallis. There’s a marker for James Hamar indicating the location of the original homestead. He’s also a huge Star Wars fan with an impressive collection of memorabilia in his cubicle. Randy will celebrate two years with OEM on Valentine’s Day, 2024.