Building community resilience to emergencies

National Preparedness Month is a time for Oregonians to reflect on the events of 9/11. It also serves as a reminder to consider our own emergency preparedness activities. When was the last time you restocked your emergency kit?   

Please help health officials ensure the next time there’s a severe storm, power outage, flooding, or public health emergency, all Oregonians will be ready, because you took the time to be prepared.  

Get started today

Learn more: Simple steps to get prepared

Build a kit Make a plan Stay informed

Take time today to be more prepared. Here are some simple ideas:

• Set aside a few items for your emergency kit. Building a kit doesn't have to be expensive. Watch this video on building an emergency kit on a budget.
• Ask your children about their school’s emergency plan.
• Determine what your family would do if there was a major emergency in your city.
• Learn about potential natural hazards in your area.

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Read personal preparedness stories

Each of us has a story to share about emergency preparedness. Whether it's surviving a house fire, an earthquake or building a family emergency kit with your children, we all have a story to tell. Ask your friends and family if they've been through an emergency or share your story with them.

• Remembering a Christmas Day house fire 
• Question and Answers about Fukushima earthquake 
• Building a family emergency kit 

Review public health's emergency response plan

The Office of the State Public Health Director and the Health Security, Preparedness, and Response program are seeking comment from the public and partners on the content of the Public Health Emergency Support Function 8 Base Plan (ESF-8 Base Plan). 

Emergency Support Function 8 outlines the activities public health and medical services will coordinate during a major disaster or emergency. Please send all comments to the Health Security, Preparedness, and Response program by September 30, 2012.  

Emergency Support Functions (ESFs) are the grouping of governmental and certain private sector capabilities into an organizational structure to provide support, resources, program implementation, and services that are most likely needed to save lives, protect property and the environment, restore essential services and critical infrastructure, and help victims and communities return to normal following domestic incidents.