SALEM, Ore.-A free webinar series to help rural Oregon communities prepare for potential natural disasters is set for this spring.
“This series is designed to help rural communities strengthen their resilience by understanding risks, planning ahead, and knowing what resources are available during recovery,” said Kayla Thompson, Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Community Preparedness Coordinator.
“Rural Communities Prepared for Disasters” is a two-part virtual education series hosted by OEM focused on practical ways communities can prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, such as ice storms, flooding, wildfires, or extreme heat.
OEM is partnering with Oregon State University Extension Service, Oregon Sea Grant, Upstream Access, Woodburn Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities (O4AD) for the webinar series tailored to the needs of rural communities.
The two sessions of the webinar, scheduled for April 22 and May 13, are ideal for organizations, community groups, and faith-based organizations that support rural communities, emergency management professionals, and anyone interested in disaster preparedness and recovery, according to OEM.
Session 1: Preparedness and Response
April 22, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- How disasters can impact communications systems and how to stay informed when systems are interrupted
- How to know when to evacuate and what to do when evacuation is not possible
- Understanding backup power options
Session 2: Recovery and long-term support
May 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- How disaster recovery is funded and what the recovery process looks like
- What individuals and communities can do to support smoother recovery efforts
- The role that long-term recovery groups play and how communities can get involved
Registration for “Rural Communities Prepared for Disasters” is available online.
The sessions are offered in English with Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Ukrainian, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation.
Recordings of both sessions will also be posted on OEM’s YouTube Channel.
“Preparedness starts with making sure communities have the information and connections they need before disasters happen,” said Thompson.
