Oregon Emergency Management To Host Rural Disaster Preparedness Webinar Series

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is inviting the public to take part in a free virtual education series aimed at helping rural communities better prepare for disasters.

Part one of the series, titled “Rural Communities Prepared for Disasters Webinar Part 1,” is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT. The online event will focus on ways rural areas can prepare for and recover from emergencies including wildfires, floods, ice storms, and extreme heat.

According to the event listing, the webinar will cover how disasters affect communication channels and ways people can stay informed, how to recognize when evacuation is needed and what steps to take when leaving is not possible, and what backup power options are available depending on individual needs.

Organizers say the series is intended for a wide range of participants, including community organizations, faith-based groups, emergency management professionals, people who serve rural communities, and anyone interested in disaster preparedness.

The webinar is free to attend, but registration is required. Participants must also have a free Zoom account to join.

Interpretation will be available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, and Ukrainian. American Sign Language and live captioning will also be offered.

Those who cannot attend the live webinar will still be able to watch later, as recordings are expected to be posted on the Be 2 Weeks Ready YouTube channel.

Registration is available here: https://tinyurl.com/yjdfu73d

The Facebook event can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/share/17TJBGf3Pr/