Whenever there is a storm or other type of disaster in Oregon, questions come to us about financial and other types of assistance. We hear “Who is going to help us?” and “How can we get state or federal assistance?”
I would love to be able to tell you that the government has enough money to fix everything for everyone but you know that’s not true. We do what we can under the laws that we have and that includes a process that must be followed. Having enough home and flood insurance is the best way to protect your property.
Response to a disaster begins at the local level. Each town, city and county is prepared to assist their citizens immediately during an event. If the disaster uses up all of their resources, county officials can ask the Governor for an emergency declaration. If the Governor agrees, state resources are provided, coordinated by Oregon Emergency Management (OEM), to assist the counties. If the disaster becomes a burden on the state, the Governor may ask the President for a federal declaration.
This is a simplified explanation of the process. There is always a lot of paperwork involved, information must be gathered and rules followed. Unfortunately when the storm hits you, it seems like everything takes forever.
Remember - Your first responders are working diligently to make things safe and secure and your local officials are following procedures to get you the assistance you need. Follow instructions from your local emergency managers and be prepared for the next one – it is still winter.
Showing posts with label governor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label governor. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Friday, August 21, 2009
Oregon Preparing for H1N1
Today there was a statewide summit by Governor Kulongsoki about the H1N1 threat to the state of Oregon. More than 800 people attended from private and public sectors, including representatives from schools, hospitals, businesses, state and county emergency managers, and more.
The H1N1 flu has caused almost 500 deaths in the United States since it was discovered in March, including 11 people from Oregon. The Governor asked that every Oregonian be ready to take care of themselves and their families in case the flu gets worse as flu season starts.
The worst case scenario might be that 1 or 2 out of every 5 Oregonians could be sickened by the flu. In this case the Governor urges that if you are sick that you stay at home to prevent spreading the flu. Symptoms of the H1N1 flu are similar to the seasonal flu: high fever, cough, sore throat, chills, body aches, and fatigue. Symptoms can range from mild to severe depending upon your age, health, and other factors.
For more information, http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
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