of Oregon’s Preparedness for a Catastrophic
Disaster
SALEM, OR — Today, Secretary of State Dennis Richardson released an
audit that calls on state officials to do more to prepare Oregon for a catastrophic
disaster.
Auditors found that Oregon is vulnerable to a Cascadia
earthquake and tsunami that is expected to have catastrophic consequences
throughout the region in addition to recurring disasters of wildfires and
flooding. The audit found that state and local governments do not meet key
standards for being prepared to respond to such events.
Oregon needs to complete and implement critical plans,
fulfill minimum standards for an effective emergency management program, and
adequately staff the agency charged with coordinating emergency management
efforts. The findings are outlined in the report entitled: “The State Must Do
More to Prepare Oregon for a Catastrophic Disaster.”
“We know Oregon is facing a massive threat from a Cascadia
earthquake and tsunami,” said Secretary of State Dennis Richardson. “The only
thing we don’t know is when. It is critical that we act now to better prepare our
state to survive not only this particular threat, but all catastrophic
disasters facing Oregon. The state’s emergency management system, coordinated
through the Office of Emergency Managements (OEM), must be prepared to respond
to such events.”
The audit found a number of deficiencies that weaken
Oregon’s preparedness for such an event, including the following:
Oregon does not meet key emergency management
program standards. These national baseline standards are a tool to strengthen
preparedness and response, demonstrate accountability, and identify resource
needs.
Planning efforts across all levels of Oregon’s emergency
management system are lacking. Critical continuity plans that ensure functional
government services in the wake of a disaster are either missing or incomplete.
Additionally, insufficient staff resources put the state at risk of losing
millions of dollars in federal grant funding for future disasters.
Current statewide staffing is inadequate to
reduce Oregon’s vulnerability to disasters. OEM in particular is understaffed,
despite repeated budget requests to the Legislature. This inhibits the agency’s
capacity to coordinate emergency management efforts in the state.
More accountability is needed to ensure progress
on preparedness goals and projects, and to enhance public awareness.
Auditors conducted a survey of state agencies and local
emergency management programs to determine the status of efforts to prepare for
a catastrophic event. Auditors also interviewed staff at OEM and other
agencies, researched programs in other states, and assessed emergency
management program standards.
The audit includes 11 recommendations to OEM and the
Governor’s Office. These recommendations include such actions as completing,
implementing, and exercising emergency and continuity plans; meeting minimum
emergency management program standards; reporting on efforts to improve state
resilience; defining roles and responsibilities; and assessing and filling
resource gaps.
Auditors’ Note: The audit issued today by the
Secretary of State is unrelated to and separate from the ongoing, multi-year
audit being conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of
Inspector General regarding the use of federal grant monies for OEM
administration salaries and expenses.