Rogue Valley News, Monday 9/9 – Sunday Marked Four Years Since The Almeda Fire, Weather and Fire Updates & Other Local and Statewide News…

Missing Oregon Nurse Found Dead. Neighbor Arrested For Her Murder

A nurse allegedly murdered by her Oregon neighbor just two weeks after getting married had plans to move out to be with her long-distance husband in Washington state, her family shared.

Police recovered the remains of Melissa Jubane, 32, on Friday evening after a three-day search that ended in the arrest of her 27-year-old neighbor, Bryce Johnathan Schubert, who was charged with second-degree murder.

The newlywed was reported missing on Wednesday after failing to show up to her morning shift at St. Vincent Hospital in southwest Portland. Her co-workers requested a wellness check on her, but police didn’t find any signs of her at her apartment.

Jubane married Bryan Llantero, of Hawaii, on the island of Honolulu on Aug. 24 and had just returned to Oregon before she vanished.

The newlyweds first met in Hawaii and dated for over a decade, flying back and forth to see each other. Llantero had last heard from his new wife the morning she went missing, according to KHON .

Jubane would stay in her Oregon apartment because of its proximity to her workplace while Llantero stayed in Washington state with Melissa’s family, her mother-in-law, Imelda Llantero, told the local news station.

But after tying the knot, Jubane planned to look for a job in Washington so she could live with her new husband, Imelda Llantero said.

Since her alleged murder, family members have taken to social media to advocate for justice and preserve her memory.

Jax Marquez, one of Jubane’s cousins, has turned to dedicating parts of her social media to her, including changing her profile picture to read “Justice for #melissajubane.”

Jubane’s father also expressed his heartbreak online. “I’m in so much pain right now for you my daughter Melissa Jubane. As promised by the Beaverton Police Authorities to us, your justice will be done soon,” Valentin Jubane, Melissa’s father, wrote in a post on Facebook .

“I have trust in our God The Almighty and His only son our Lord God Jesus Christ. You are loved by so many good people around the world.”

Another one of Melissa’s cousins, Onilobes Allan, urged politicians to protect potential victims from bad actors.

“[…] our government need[s] to protect [people like Melissa] so we can have a chance to live in peace and have happiness in the world but unfortunately got taken advantage and was killed by someone that is very evil. I’m asking the government to make laws that protect good citizens,” he wrote in a post on Facebook .  (SOURCE)

ODF Reminds the Public Fire that Season Is Not Over

(Release from the Oregon Department of Forestry) The Oregon Department of Forestry wants to remind Oregonians that with weather fluctuating across the state, fire is still on the landscape and fire season is still in effect. Oregon is still experiencing one of the worst seasons we’ve seen in the past decade, and the department warns the public against complacency.

“East winds are very common around this time of year, making now the time to prevent the next large wildfire. There is still potential for more fire starts and the season isn’t over yet.” Chris Cline, Fire Protection Division Chief, said. “The fewer human caused fires we have, the less strained our resources will be.”

East winds come to the Pacific Northwest every year around the end of August and last through the fall months. They occur from the crest of the Cascades to the Oregon/ Washington coast. Though the winds come annually, significant east wind “events” do not occur every year. If an event does occur, it usually lasts about 48 hours.

Current low humidity combined with sustained winds can increase fire behavior and risk west of the Cascades.

Conditions are a mix of warm temperatures, wind, and dry fuels, increasing the risk of wildfire. So far this year, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, there have been 1,697 fires in Oregon that have burned 1,535,304 acres. Within 24 hours the weekend of August 30, the department deployed two incident management teams to assist with fast growing fires in Klamath (Copperfield Fire) and Wheeler (Shoe Fly Fire) Counties.

If the Oregon Department of Forestry knows that an east wind event is going to happen, which can be determined at least 5 days in advance, the agency will preposition resources, adjust schedules, and take necessary precautions to respond to new starts or increased fire behavior quickly.

“With the approaching fall like conditions, it’s easy to think that fires are lessening. However, we are still seeing new fire starts daily throughout the state of Oregon.” Cline said.

Wildfire prevention means:

• Debris burning is prohibited during fire season without a permit. Cover your pile and wait until fire season is over. A dry, covered pile is cleaner and safer to burn later, during wet fall and winter conditions.
• Don’t park your car over dried grass, and make sure your vehicle or ATV is regularly serviced.
• Dispose of your cigarette using designated receptacles, and NEVER discard butts on the ground or in vegetation outdoors.
• Check local restrictions before lighting a campfire.

Several ODF districts have updated their fire danger levels recently. Visit Oregon.gov/odf to find local fire restrictions and keeporegongreen.org for more wildfire prevention tips.

Oregon fire season sets record with over 1.7 million acres burned

It’s been a record-setting fire season in Oregon, officials said Sunday. More than 1.7 million acres of Oregon’s landscape have burned this year.

Carol Connolly with the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center said that is the highest amount of acres burned since 1992.

“As of today, the Northwest is now the number one priority in the nation,” Connolly said. “We’ve detected at a minimum of 50 new fires.”

More than 600 lightning strikes moved through the area Friday and Saturday, sparking those fires. Connolly says five new large fires were started and a total of 27 large fires are burning in the region. A large fire is defined as 100 acres of timber or 300 acres of grassland.

Officials are urging people to be extremely careful when they are out on public lands. If a human-caused fire starts, it will pull resources away from battling other blazes.

9/9 – Smoke and Air Quality Update 6 AM 9/9/24 Continued hot and dry conditions will result in more smoke development and fire activity across the region. The HRRR smoke modeling graphic shows where smoke is projected to move by later this afternoon/evening.

Air quality will be impacted for locations directly downwind or nearby any active fires. Full model loop located here: https://www.weather.gov/mfr/wildfire

MILEPOST 98 FIRE. CANYONVILLE, OR: September 5, around 5:15 pm Crews from DFPA, DCSO, Oregon State Police (OSP), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), South Umpqua Canyonville Fire Department, Tri-City Fire Department, Riddle Fire Department, and Myrtle Creek Fire Department responded to a currently estimated 100-acre fire near milepost 98, southbound on Interstate 5. On arrival at the scene, a fully engulfed vehicle and an actively growing natural cover fire were found. Aerial and ground resources took immediate action and are engaged in an aggressive initial attack. Due to fast-paced fire activity, evacuations were ordered in coordination with DCSO.

This year so far, 1.5 million acres have already burned across Oregon compared with the 10-year average burned in an entire fire season of 640,000 acres. The western side of Oregon got more of a break this summer as most of the aggressive activity has been in eastern Oregon.

With around 5,000 firefighters currently dispatched across the state, they have worked for almost two months straight and are experiencing fatigue.

Kotek said that the state has been able to protect a lot of communities but the team has been pushed to the brink this season. She also predicts that fire seasons are not going to get easier and Orgeon must figure out how to have consistent funding to do the necessary work.

Kotek confirmed that Oregon received approval for seven FEMA grants that will provide help in the form of significant levels of reimbursement. Other states and even other countries like Australia and New Zealand have sent help to Oregon.

Wildfires have burned more than 1 million acres across the state, making Oregon by far the worst off out of all the states in terms of acres burned this summer.

PLEASE Help Prevent Human-Caused Wildfires

• Immediately call 911 to report fires.
• Drones and other unmanned aircrafts are illegal to fly near fires.
• Fireworks, incendiary/tracer ammunition and exploding targets, are prohibited during fire season (May-October).
• Use caution when target shooting. Clear a 20-foot radius around the target by removing all vegetation and rocks.
• Ensure vehicles and trailers are properly maintained
• Make sure chains and other metal parts are not dragging.
• Keep exhaust systems clean and use spark arrestors.
• Do not park on dry grass.
• Carry extra water, shovel, and/or a fire extinguisher with you.
• Ensure your campfire is completely extinguished before leaving your campsite by making sure it is cool to the touch.
• Please don’t smoke and if you do, don’t throw out cigarette butts.
• Please be mindful and think about your actions

To ensure all Oregonians remain safe during the 2024 wildfire season, we urge everyone to stay tuned into these communications channels and follow all official safety guidelines related to air quality and recreation:

Watch Duty app: Download this app on your smartphone to understand where wildfires are in real time as well as monitor air quality and other metrics. https://app.watchduty.org

Northwest Interagency Coordination Center: During fire season, this web-based interactive map is updated daily with current fire perimeters and locations. This website acts as the wildfire resource coordination center for the Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, Oregon Dept of Forestry, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washington Dept. of Natural Resources and the National Park Service. https://gacc.nifc.gov/nwcc/index.aspx

InciWeb the Incident Information System: The federal interagency all-risk incident information management system provides an interactive map with real-time location information on wildfires. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

Oregon Department of Forestry Wildfire News: The official wildfire news blog for the Oregon Department of Forestry. Look here for all wildfire news related to state forest lands. https://odffire.com/

Keep Oregon Green: A partnership comprised of statewide and interagency groups working together to promote awareness of the risk and causes of wildfires and how to be prepared in case of a wildfire emergency. https://keeporegongreen.org/

OregonLive Wildfire Map: A project managed by OregonLive that incorporates data from InciWeb, National Interagency Fire Center, Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, Oregon Office of Emergency Management, NOAA into an easy-to-use map tool. https://projects.oregonlive.com/wildfires/map

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality – Air Quality Monitoring Data: A real-time map and cell phone application you can use to track air quality, including wildfire smoke impacts, across the state. Check your app store for OregonAir. https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map

Purple Air – Air Quality Map System: Real-time air quality information using crowdsourced data and data from EPA air sensors. https://map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10/p604800/cC0…

NOAA High Resolution Rapid Refresh Data Visualization: The High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency(NOAA) is an experimental data visualization tool for wildfire smoke. Be sure to turn on the “Vertically Integrated Smoke” layer to see smoke paths. https://hwp-viz.gsd.esrl.noaa.gov/smoke/index.html

Preventing wildfires requires a collective effort from everyone—help mitigate the risk of human-caused wildfires and protect our forests and communities.

Monitor Fires in Oregon – Updated Daily

Large Fires in Oregon Past 2 Weeks 9/9/24 9:00am per INCIWEB

In these dry conditions, a single spark can cause a lot of damage. Learn how you can prevent wildfires by visiting the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s wildfire prevention page.

U.S. Forest Service Hiring in Oregon

The U.S. Forest Service is looking to shore up its wildland firefighting force in the Pacific Northwest.  Recruitment events will take place across Oregon next month, with stops in Bend, Sandy and La Grande on September 12th, in an effort to hire a couple hundred permanent seasonal positions.

“That’s our goal, is to hire up to 200, maybe even a little more if we can, into these what we call entry level, perm-fire-hire positions, which are typically your six to nine-month timeframe employment within the agency,” said Jason Heinz who works in regional workforce development for the Forest Service.  He added those jobs are spread around Oregon, Washington and Alaska, and in most cases fill a currently vacant position.  Heinz says several factors make it more difficult to recruit wildland crews.

“We are increasing the number of individuals that work for the agency, our fire seasons are getting longer, burnout is a real thing. And so, we’re trying to work on adding more capacity to our crews so that we can have a better work-life balance.”  — Applications can be submitted now through September 24th. Visit USAJobs.gov to apply.

Oregon Farm Bureau — Thanks to the generous support of our agricultural community, we are now receiving both monetary and feed donations through our Wildfire Relief Fund. If you are a farmer or rancher affected by the wildfires, please take a moment to complete our short application for relief. https://www.oregonfb.org/

Federal Report Finds Food Insecurity Worse In Oregon Since The Pandemic

More Oregonians were food insecure, couldn’t afford groceries or outright skipped meals in 2023, compared to 2020. That’s according to an annual U.S. Department of Agriculture household food security report released Wednesday.

While inflation is cooling down, prices at grocery stores still remain high for many people. In Oregon, food insecurity rates rose sharply to 12% from 2021-2023, an increase from 9.2% from 2018-2020, according to the USDA report. That means more than 400,000 people – including many of the state’s children – were food insecure, or didn’t know where their next meal was coming from.

The state was one of six states where very low food security rates rose as well – essentially when people are in a more severe situation and are skipping meals because they can’t afford adequate food. Nationally, 13.5% of households were food insecure at least sometime during the year.

The report aligns with the spike in need for emergency food assistance across Oregon over the last few years, said Morgan Dewey, a spokesperson for the Oregon Food Bank.

“For the last couple of years we’ve seen a record-breaking number of visits across our more than 1,400 food assistance sites across Oregon and Southwest Washington,” Dewey said. “This data absolutely confirms the anecdotes that we’ve seen on the ground and what those local food pantries are saying.”

Sarah Weber-Ogden, co-executive director for Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, said she attributes the sharp increase to the rising cost of living, but also to the end of pandemic-era assistance programs, which kept many families afloat during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s really showing us that government programs that provide access to food are actually very successful in keeping our neighbors out of food insecurity,” she said. “And that can give us a roadmap for moving forward and taking next steps in light of this data.”

Weber-Ogden said going into the 2025 state legislative session, she and other advocates will make universal free school meals a top priority, which would help address hunger among children. While free meals are available in all  three of Oregon’s largest school districts, that’s not the case for all schools, Weber-Ogden said.

“We’re not all the way there…we have a small gap to close to get there, but it is going to require that lawmakers prioritize this now,” she said.

Dewey said the Oregon Food Bank, along with other advocates, including Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, will work to introduce the Food for All Oregonians policy during next year’s legislative session as well. The bill would extend benefits similar to SNAP, informally known as food stamps, to over 62,000 Oregonians currently ineligible to apply because of their immigration status.

“This would directly put money in people’s pockets to buy food,” she said. “It would get Oregon off the list of those [high food insecurity] states.”

For Weber-Ogden, the report overall highlights the need for stronger policies to reduce food insecurity rates.

“This data really should be a wake up call to lawmakers in a state as abundant as Oregon,” she said. “There’s no reason why we should be seeing food insecurity rates like this.”  (SOURCE)

OSP asking for the public’s help to locate wanted man —  Oregon State Police 

Converted ambulance

Suspect wanted for sex crimes in Oregon and Alabama

WASCO COUNTY, Ore. 9 Sept. 2024 – Oregon State Police and the Mobile (Alabama) Police Department are seeking the public’s help to locate Adam Renk (39) who is wanted in both states for sex crimes against child victims.

On June 21, 2024, OSP detectives responded to a sexual abuse disclosure made by a minor. The minor disclosed Renk as the perpetrator. Renk has since been indicted on multiple crimes against a child victim under the age of 12. He is charged with Unlawful Sexual Penetration in the First Degree, Sodomy in the First Degree, and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

As part of their investigation, OSP detectives learned Renk had been charged in another case involving a minor victim in Mobile, Alabama. The Alabama charges include Child Sexual Abuse and Torture involving an 11-year-old victim. The victims in the two states are not related. Alabama law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Marshals Service are attempting to locate Renk who posted bond in Alabama and was released from pre-trial custody.

Renk was last seen leaving Alabama on August 7, 2024. He has ties to Oregon and Wasco County. He is believed to be traveling in a converted Ford Ambulance that is now painted two-toned white over gray. Renk is a white male, 6 ft. 1 in. tall, 175 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information about Renk’s whereabouts or information about possible additional victims is asked to contact the Wasco County Sheriff’s Office at 541-506-2580 or OSP Detective Cassie Bantz through dispatch at 800-442-0776 or by dialing OSP (677) on a mobile phone.

Officer Involved Shooting- Oregon State Police- Lincoln County 
Oregon State Police 

Lincoln County, Ore. 5 Sept. 24 – On Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, just after midnight, Oregon State Police SWAT responded to a Lincoln City residence to assist the Lincoln City Police Department with a barricaded suspect. Responding officers made multiple attempts to negotiate with the suspect who fired at police and refused to comply with commands.  The suspect was ultimately shot by responding police and died at the scene.

On Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at approximately 12:42 p.m., the Lincoln City Police Department requested assistance from local law enforcement agencies regarding an incident involving a suspect shooting at police officers while investigating a parking violation. The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle and later on foot.

Oregon State Police (OSP) responded and deployed a SWAT K-9 unit. The K-9 tracked the suspect to a residence at 1905 NW Jetty Ave. in Lincoln City. Occupants exited the residence and knew the suspect but denied seeing him that day. It was later confirmed the male suspect was within the residence and a search warrant was granted.

OSP SWAT personnel were activated and responded to the scene. Negotiators made numerous attempts at communicating with the suspect as well as issuing verbal commands through a public address system. The suspect made numerous threatening statements and at 2:45 a.m. the suspect began to shoot through windows from within the residence. For unknown reasons, a fire started within the residence. As the fire spread the suspect exited an upstairs window to the roof carrying a rifle. He refused commands to drop the rifle. Shots were fired and the suspect fell from the roof to the ground below.

OSP SWAT personnel secured the suspect’s firearm and pulled him away from the burning residence to render medical aid. He was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene.

Four OSP SWAT members were determined to have fired rounds during the incident.

The Lincoln County Major Crimes Team was activated in accordance with the Lincoln County Deadly Force Plan. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is assuming the lead investigator role and is being assisted by detectives from the Lincoln City Police Department, Newport Police Department, and Oregon State Police Criminal Investigations Division.

Lane County Parks partners with Oregon Coast Visitors Association to bring mobility mats to Heceta Beach
Lane County Parks rolled out its latest effort to make popular park locations more accessible by adding mobility mats at Heceta Beach County Park.

“This project is a great example of making a park more welcoming and available to everyone in our community,” said Lane County Parks Manager Brett Henry. “It’s also an example of working together to make improvements that might not be possible alone. We’re really excited to be adding mobility mats to one of our popular coastal parks.”

Mobility mats are portable, non-slip pathways that make it easier for people using wheelchairs, strollers, or with limited mobility, to access sandy areas. They create a stable surface so that more people can enjoy the beach.

The new mobility mats at Heceta Beach create a 6-foot-wide pathway that reaches 120 feet from the parking area and along the sandy path to the beach and ending just beyond the regular high tide line.

The mobility mats were purchased using grant funds provided by the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, and Travel Lane County helped make the connection between the agencies. Lane County Parks installed the mats and plans to add more to expand their reach using levy funds.

Heceta Beach County Park is also the site of a David’s Chair location in partnership with Lane County Parks and Driftwood Shores. David’s Chair provides FREE access to all-terrain track chairs that can help people who otherwise would not be able to enjoy the beach spend time on the sand. Learn more about David and the organization at www.davidschair.org.

3,000 Oregon state workers claim faulty state analysis left them underpaid

More than 3,000 Oregon state workers have filed claims alleging that they are underpaid due to an inaccurate evaluation of their experience and education in a recent state equal pay analysis.

The Oregon Department of Administrative Services conducts the analysis at least once every three years to ensure employees have the correct job classification and are fairly paid. The latest review, covering about 36,000 state employees and completed in June, resulted in salary increases for 8,789 workers, who were reclassified based on updated education and experience assessments, according to Bryanna Duke, public records manager for the agency.

The significant number of reclassifications marks a victory for the state’s public employee unions, which have successfully negotiated several changes to the equal pay analysis process, aiming to promote fairness and address wage disparities between male and female state employees, as well as between employees of color and their white counterparts.

However, 3,025 employees – or about 8.4% of employees covered by the analysis – have appealed, contending that the state miscalculated their experience, education level or both, according to Andrea Chiapella, spokesperson for the Department of Administrative Services.

Summer EBT application deadline extended to Sept. 30, 2024
(Salem) – The application deadline for the new Summer EBT program has been extended to midnight Sept. 30, 2024. The program offers $120 per child to help cover grocery costs when school food programs are not as easy to access. Eligible families should act now.

Thousands of families may be unaware that they qualify for this essential benefit. The Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) urge families to check their eligibility and apply before the extended deadline. Remember, once benefits are received, they must be used within 122 days.

Most eligible children received their benefits automatically on June 28, 2024, if their households:

1. Participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
2. Participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
3. Are Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) members in households with incomes under 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level

Children in foster care also automatically received Summer EBT.

However, families who did not receive benefits automatically, particularly those with children enrolled in a school during the 2023-2024 school year who were eligible for the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs, should still apply to determine their eligibility.

Families are encouraged to visit sebt.oregon.gov or contact the Summer EBT Call Center to verify their eligibility and apply. ODHS Director Fariborz Pakseresht said, “We are grateful to our federal partners for making this extension. The extra time is so important for us to reach families who may be eligible because we know access to nutritious food is critical.”

“Staying engaged in school and active in life requires proper nutrition,” said ODE Director Dr. Charlene Williams. “We know that there are many more families out there who have children who may be eligible for the $120 Summer EBT benefit and this important extension boosts our opportunity to reach them.”

Since June 28, 2024, more than 336,198 eligible school-aged children have been issued $40.3 million in Summer EBT food benefits. More than 60 percent of families receiving benefits in the initial issuance were able to immediately use benefits on existing Oregon EBT cards; the rest received new cards in July.

Act now and don’t let this opportunity pass by. Make sure your family receives the assistance it deserves by applying for Summer EBT before midnight Sept. 30, 2024.

To learn more:

1. Call 833-ORE-SEBT (833-673-7328). The call center is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
2. Visit sebt.oregon.gov.

 

 Oregon State Police are reminding parents and students of the SafeOregon hotline.

It takes reports of potential threats against students and schools. The tips can be made anonymously. They can include safety threats, fights, drugs, weapons on campus, cyberbullying and students considering self-harm or suicide. A technician reviews the reports and assigns them either to police or school administrators. Tips can be made by phone, text, email or on the website https://www.safeoregon.com

Oregon Senators Celebrate $11.5 Million To Boost Oregon Literacy Programs

On Friday, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that $11.5 million is coming to Oregon to boost the state’s programs to close disparities in literacy for students.

A release said the U.S. Department of Education is awarding the Oregon Department of Education $11,578,036 to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing for students from birth through grade 12. The program will particularly focus on limited-English-proficient students, and students with disabilities, including dyslexia. Friday’s award is the first of an anticipated 5-year program that could total up to nearly $58 million.

 

 

Merkley said, “Reading is key to success in education and life”. Merkley said, “Making sure the Oregon Department of Education has the resources it needs to support students and students with disabilities, including dyslexia, benefits us all. I’ll never stop fighting for Oregon students to make certain every child has a solid start in life”.

Wyden said, “The road to a great future for young Oregonians begins with reading”. Wyden said, “Students throughout our state with learning disabilities, English language learners and other young Oregonians will all gain from these federal literacy funds. I’ll always battle for these kinds of opportunities to strengthen educational support in classrooms statewide”.

The release said planned activities include literacy coaching, utilizing research-based literacy instruction, and developing effective school transition practices. The State will partner with the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to align efforts with the Governor’s Early Literacy Educator Preparation Council.

Governor Kotek issues a proclamation recognizing September as Preparedness Month in Oregon

– Governor Tina Kotek has officially proclaimed September Preparedness Month in Oregon.

“I want to call out the extraordinary work of local and state leaders who made sure our state was prepared for this year’s unprecedented wildfire season,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “As firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the fires burning across the state, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management effectively mobilized shelters, evacuation support, and identified the resources each community needed.”

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) will observe preparedness month by launching a new community-based initiative designed to help individuals and their communities prepare for emergencies and practice their skills as a group. The Be 2 Weeks Ready Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to individual and community resiliency.

The digital version of the kit is available at Oregon.gov/OEM and is offered in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Vietnamese, with American Sign Language videos coming soon.

“As director of OEM, it’s a top priority for me to help people living in Oregon be ready for disasters,” Erin McMahon, said. “The Be 2 Weeks Ready program helps foster a culture of preparedness within established community groups such as faith-based organizations, neighborhood associations, local 4-H clubs, schools, and workplaces.”

Preparing for emergencies can feel overwhelming. It’s important to remember that being two weeks ready doesn’t have to be expensive or happen all at once. There are a lot of effective and low-cost to no-cost actions your community can take today to be ready for tomorrow. You can find more details about these on FEMA’s preparedness site Ready.gov, but here are a few:

• Visit ORAlert.gov to sign up to receive local emergency alerts or update your contact information
• Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your mobile phone.
• Understand Oregon’s evacuation levels and know the evacuation routes in your area.
• Familiarize yourself with TripCheck.com.
• Make go bags with survival essentials for every member of your family, including pets.
• Store copies of important information or documents in a password-protected online drive or on a flash drive in a waterproof container in your go bag.

Also, look to your local leaders for additional tips on how your community is preparing. Connect with your local emergency management office, sheriff’s office, or Tribal police and follow them on social media to stay up to date during quickly changing emergencies.

When a disaster strikes, you are the help until help arrives. By working together, communities can enhance their collective resilience and ensure everyone is equipped to handle emergencies.

In addition to the Be 2 Weeks Ready Toolkit, people interested in helping their communities and deepening their basic disaster response skills can join a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and learn from peers.

There are four types of CERT programs: Community, Workplace, Campus, Teen. Each program is supported by a sponsoring organization. A sponsoring organization can be any government agency, such as a fire department, emergency management agency or city council.

In the end, OEM wants to help people feel empowered, not frightened, when thinking about how they will respond in an emergency. The Be 2 Weeks Ready Toolkit and CERT programs can help individuals build meaningful connections with one another that will lead to better outcomes for everyone when disaster strikes.

More than 50 active CERT programs exist in Oregon. People can find contact information for teams in their area on the Oregon Department of Emergency Management website.

People who are interested in becoming a Be 2 Weeks Ready program coordinator or want to find a program near them can email eparedness@oem.oregon.gov“>community.preparedness@oem.oregon.gov.

Take action now during National Preparedness Month to get ready for emergencies – Prepare your household now for more extreme weather events and natural disasters. 

The American Red Cross Cascades Region is encouraging everyone to take critical action during National Preparedness Month this September to be ready for worsening disasters. Deadly storms, raging wildfires and extreme heat are becoming more frequent and intense and families are experiencing the effects.

“Disasters can happen at any time, often without warning, changing lives forever in just minutes,” says Red Cross Regional Disaster Officer Jonathan Seibert.“ As our climate changes, it’s critical to help protect your loved ones and National Preparedness Month is the ideal time to get your household ready for emergencies.”

HOW TO PREPARE Get ready for disasters by making a plan to stay safe, gathering important supplies and knowing how you’ll stay connected. Follow these steps to prepare for emergencies:

1. Depending on the emergency, you may need to stay where you are or go somewhere else to stay safe. If you may need to leave, think about where you will go, how you will get there, where you will stay and what you’ll take with you. Plan well in advance if you’ll need help leaving or use public transportation.
2. Next, gather and organize critical supplies — like food, water and medicine — into a go-kit and a stay-at-home kit. Your go-kit should include three days of supplies that you can take with you. Your stay-at-home kit should have two weeks of food and water, and a one-month supply of medications, if possible.
3. Customize your kit to meet your household’s specific needs. If you have young children, don’t forget formula and diapers. If you have pets, include leashes, carriers, food, bowls, litter and a litterbox.
4. Make a plan to reconnect with loved ones if you are separated or if the phone or internet is down. Write down important phone numbers on a contact card and carry it with you.
5. Finally, download the free Red Cross Emergency app for real-time weather alerts and expert advice in both English and Spanish. And don’t forget to sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government to get critical information during local emergencies.

CLIMATE CRISIS EFFECTS.  This summer, a record-breaking 1.5 million acres have been burned by wildfires in Oregon. We’ve opened more than 20 shelters for level 3 “Go Now” evacuations since June.

So far in 2024, nationwide, 2.7 million more acres of land have been burned by wildfires compared to all of 2023.  In July, Hurricane Beryl broke records as the earliest Category 5 storm ever recorded and in early August, Hurricane Debby brought widespread flooding to much of the East Coast. Plus, 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record according to experts. Altogether in 2024, the U.S has experienced 19 climate disasters, each with losses of over a billion dollars — more than double the average from the last 40 years.

When these disasters happen, the Red Cross is there providing food, shelter and comfort to ensure no one faces this difficult time alone. To help families better cope with this worsening climate crisis, the Red Cross is also enhancing our support for those who need it most and increasing our capacity to respond to non-stop disasters.

“The best defense during an emergency is to be prepared, and that’s true for both our individual families and our entire community,” said Red Cross Cascades Region CEO Priscilla Fuentes. “During National Preparedness Month, consider donating to help people affected by disasters big and small, or making an appointment to give blood. If you have the time, take a first aid class or put on a red vest and join us as a volunteer.”

Visit redcross.org or call 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to learn more today.

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.