Have news to share? Share them with the OEMA Secretary (oema.secretary@oregonemergency.com) for addition to this page. This page is updated weekly. (02.23.24 - RQ) 

N DOI Launches Pilot Program to Strengthen Local Government Wildfire Response Capabilities

• On Feb. 6, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced the launch of a pilot program to strengthen local governments’ wildfire response capabilities by converting vehicles to wildland fire engines. The pilot program can be used by local governments to purchase slip-on tanker units that will allow them to quickly convert trucks and other vehicles to be operated as wildland fire engines. Local governments that provide emergency services to areas with a population of 25,000 or less are eligible to apply for this funding. Grant amounts will range from $10,000 to $200,000. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized $50 million for the pilot program, and $5 million is available during this first round.
• The funding will help small, remote emergency response agencies quickly expand their wildfire response capacity. Grant applications must be submitted through the Grants.gov website. Statements of interest are due by Thursday, March 21, 2024. If invited, application packages will be due on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Additional details about the pilot program and application process will be available in the Federal Register in the coming days.

HB 4081 Input

• you are now able to submit written testimony for HB 4081, the EMS Modernization bill. Please click Submit Testimony on the following link and submit your written testimony in SUPPORT. You can submit testimony up to 48 hours after today’s Public Hearing as well. If you work for a state agency – please note you are limited in your ability to participate in advocacy efforts so instead of submitting testimony please consult with your Government Affairs team if you’d like to support the bill in some fashion.
   
  If you have concerns about the bill – please let us know prior to submitting testimony as it’s likely we can clear up any misunderstandings with a discussion.

FEMA's Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) Application Open through March 4

• FEMA's Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) application is now open! Students in 8th to 11th grade who have a passion for disaster preparedness, helping others, and are involved with their community are encouraged to apply. The YPC offers an opportunity for teens to share their ideas and feedback with FEMA, gain professional skills, and develop preparedness projects. National YPC members also participate in a bi-annual youth summit in Washington, D.C. with FEMA leaders and preparedness professionals to network and learn more about the field of emergency management. The next Summit will take place in July 2025 for selected members. 

  Applicants from FEMA Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, or WA) who are not selected for the National YPC will have their application reviewed for the regional YPC, which is a great opportunity to meet like-minded teens from our area. Applicants selected for the Region 10 YPC will be invited to a Summit in Bothell, WA during August 2024. FEMA will host three webinars for potential applicants to learn more about the YPC application process, what YPC members actually do, and will have the opportunity to ask FEMA staff questions. This application closes on March 4, 2024.

  Flyer in English & Spanish.

  • February 27 at 5:00pm PST (register here)

IAEM Region X Requesting Volunteers for Committees

• Region X is seeking volunteers to sit and represent Region X on the Bylaws and Credentials Committee(s). If you are interested in service on the below committees please email the Region X Chair (iaem.r10@iaem.com) no later than next Thursday April 15, COB Pacific Time.

State/OEM Preparedness Calendar Updated

• OEM's State Preparedness Calendar serves as a critical communication tool for tracking trainings and exercises currently offered in the state, as well as grant deadlines and planning events organized at OEM. The calendar has been recently updated with multiple events coming up in 2024. To make it more accessible, the calendar now has a search and filter functionality to help visitors find the trainings and exercises they specifically need.  
  

Emergency Preparedness Toolkit + Resource Hub

• 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 from 4-5 p.m. on Jan. 23 to share the Hub and Ready Now Tool Kit resources with people with disabilities and their families.
  

• 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.

NWS Tests New Rain/Snow Mix Methodology

• 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.

FEMA Releases 12th National Preparedness Report

• 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. 

CISA Releases Solar Eclipse Communications Planning and Resource Guide

• 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.

Housing Assistance for 2020 Labor Day Wildfire Survivors

• 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.
  

New OEM Flood Dashboard

• 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.

NWS Launching New National Water Prediction Service

• The National Weather Service (NWS) will launch a new National Water Prediction Service (NWPS) in spring 2024, replacing the legacy Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS). When launched, NWPS will be the one-stop shop for critical NWS water resources information, including river observations, forecasts, site data and data services. A preview of the new system is available for public testing through Dec. 15. Feedback can be provided through SurveyMonkey or your local or regional NWS office.
  

• The Natural Hazards Center—with support from the National Science Foundation and the NOAA Weather Program Office, and in partnership with the National Severe Storms Laboratory and the National Weather Service —is issuing a series of funding calls for social, behavioral, and economic sciences to advance the understanding of how to most effectively prepare for and communicate about extreme weather, water, and climate events. This new initiative is designed to promote knowledge while also building a diverse cadre of weather ready researchers.  Funds will support awards in the amount of $1,000 to $7,500 each. All proposals must be led by a researcher in the social, behavioral, or economic sciences. Collaborators from other disciplines are welcome. Early career scholars, students, advanced researchers, and practitioners interested in conducting Weather Ready research are encouraged to apply. Proposals are being accepted on a rolling basis through June 3, 2024.  More information can be found at https://hazards.colorado.edu/research/weather-ready-research/index