Governor Proclaims August to be "National Emergency Management Awareness Month"
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has officially proclaimed August 2025 as "National Emergency Management Awareness Month, recognizing the vital work of emergency managers and the role they play in helping communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. The proclamation supports a national campaign spearheaded by the International Association of Emergency Managers to increase public awareness and appreciation for the emergency management profession. In Oregon, the campaign is being led by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) in partnership with local, regional and state emergency management agencies. OEM plays a key leadership role in supporting and strengthening emergency management across the state. Through its Regional Emergency Management Coordinators Program, OEM employs specialized field staff to support all 36 counties and Oregon's nine federally recognized Tribes. These coordinators provide on-the-ground guidance and technical assistance across all phases of emergency management -- from preparedness to long-term recovery. OEM also manages the State Emergency Coordination Center (ECC), which is activated during large-scale or multi-jurisdictional emergencies.
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Merkley Announces Committee Action to Boost Wildfire, Water & Climate Investments
US Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon announced he helped advance critical investments to strengthen forest health and wildfire resiliency, protect public lands and the environment, boost important programs for Tribes and support critical projects for local communities. The federal funding comes through the Fiscal Year 2026 Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Merkley pushed to include key priorities for Oregon in the bill. This includes over $45 million for 23 community-initiated projects throughout the state. Merkley -- along with Oregon Senator Ron Wyden -- secured the funding. Local projects include $2.5 million for the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal's Statewide Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, $2 million for the City of Talent for its resilient waterline installation project to replace existing asbestos cement pipes, $1.554 million for the South Umpqua Rural Community Partnership for its Wild Fish Habitat Restoration and $1 million to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to stand up grant programs that will enable communities to implement alternatives to open burning of woody debris.
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US Senator Wyden to Hold Josephine County Town Hall Meeting at RCC in GP
US Senator Ron Wyden has announced he will hold a town hall meeting in Grants Pass early next week. The Josephine County town hall meeting is scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m. at Rogue Community College in the Redwood Campus gym, 3345 Redwood Highway. Wyden will also hold town halls this weekend in Polk, Jefferson, Benton and Clatsop counties. Heading into these five meetings, the US Senator has held a total of 1,129 town halls in keeping his promise to hold at least one each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Senator Wyden said he's looking forward to these town halls in large and small communities because hearing Oregonians' opinions and answering their questions are a must to do his job representing all parts of the state. For everyone's security, backpacks and large bags will not be allowed in the town hall meetings.
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