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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 1, 2020)
Wildfire Info and Resources By Eli Grove, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, as sent to the state of Oregon in late September We currently have a Community Health team that has been reaching out to Tribal members in wildfire-affected areas that primarily includes evacuation areas near the Otis/Lincoln City area in addition to the Salem area, where many evacuation levels existed/exist. In addition to this, the call team has reached out to almost all of our elders and has provided them supplies to deal with the smoke inundation that has significantly improved in our 11-county service area. We have also kept our CTSI resource line open so folks can call in and request assistance, whether that be due to wildfires and or COVID-19. Below is some preliminary data that reflects the impact our Tribal member- ship has experienced so far. We have been able to provide hotel rooms to our Tribal members. To date, we have provided that resource to approximately 27 Tribal mem- bers, some of whom are in a family unit. • • Homes lost by area • • • Evacuees by area • Siletz – Approximately 30 Tribal members, not including Neachesna residents (apartment complex undam- aged but initially evacuated) Salem – Approximately 10 Tribal members with 3 non-contacts Eugene – 1 Tribal member Siletz – 3 homes and 1 out building Salem – 9 homes Eugene – 1 home Injuries/Fatalities • 0 to our knowledge Siletz community shelter CTSI opened up a shelter at our rec center facility on Sept. 9, 2020, and it remained in operation through Sept. 12, 2020. Cumulatively we served 47 individuals, although most families and individuals opted to not stay in the shelter and found family or were able to return home on Saturday. Tribal members who lost their homes were connected to CTSI resources through multiple programs as well as given Red Cross contact information and resources. Non-Tribal members were connected directly to Red Cross resources. During shelter operations we took the necessary safety precautions to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, which included social distancing/spacing, mask require- ment, frequent disinfection, air scrubbing technology, etc. Current information outlets for Tribal members As stated above, we have a resource line to connect individuals/families to resources such as FEMA disaster assis- tance programs as well as our own inter- nal resources. In addition, we have these resources posted on our website and have been spreading the information through our CTSI Facebook pages. We will continue to make contact with displaced Tribal members and pro- vide them the support that we can from an internal perspective and connect them with long-term external resources. As mentioned, these are preliminary numbers as we have not been able to make contact with all individuals to date. Be safe. Stay home if you can. Wear a mask and social distance out in public. Exercise a little patience. Remember – we’re all in this together. FEMA external outreach sites open in 4 areas to help wildfire survivors AFTER THE FIRE Resources for Recovery FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR WILDFIRE RECOVERY IN OREGON USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has funding available to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners recover from wildfire impacts on private agricultural lands affected by the recent wildfires in Marion, Clackamas, Linn, Lane, Douglas, Jackson, Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill, Lincoln and Josephine. APPLICATIONS DUE: OCTOBER 30 AND DECEMBER 30 Contact Your Local Field Office to Learn More https://go.usa.gov/xGAgz Eligible land includes forest, crop, range, pasture and associated agricultural land. Available conservation practices include: • • • • Conservation Cover Cover Crop Woody Residue Treatment Mulching Find Us Online SALEM, Ore. – A FEMA external outreach site opened Oct. 15 in Lincoln City to assist Oregon residents in Lincoln County affected by recent wildfires and straight-line winds. The site offers in-person visits for resi- dents to get information about their applica- tion, ask questions about letters they receive from FEMA and have their documents scanned to be part of their application. Representatives from FEMA’s Indi- vidual Assistance Program will be avail- able at the site. Hours for all FEMA external outreach sites are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. External outreach sites are also open in Medford, Eugene and Stayton: • www.or.nrcs.usda.gov Learn more about NRCS Oregon’s fire assistance sign-up in the west at: https://go.usa.gov/xGGgT. • Assistance may also be available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural and forestry producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits, such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, and improved or created wildlife habitat. Contact your local field office to learn more. • • USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Natural Resources Conservation Service FEMA External Outreach Site #4: Lincoln Outlet Mall,1500 SE East Devils Lake Road, Suite 200, Lincoln City, Oregon 97367 FEMA External Outreach Site #1: Central High School, 815 S Oakdale Ave. Medford, Oregon 97501 FEMA External Outreach Site #2: Lane Events Center, 796 W 13th Ave., Eugene, Oregon 97402 FEMA External Outreach Site #3: Stayton Community Center, 400 W Virginia St. Stayton, Oregon 97385 To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread through person-to-person con- tact, wearing a mask or face covering is required to gain entry. Visitors receive “no touch” temperature screenings. Hand sanitizer is available to survivors and staff. Federal staff wear masks, face shields and gloves. Workstations are spaced six feet apart to provide an extra level of pro- tection for survivors and staff. FEMA ensures that common areas are cleaned regularly during the day and workstations are sanitized after each visitor. Survivors can visit any of the external outreach sites for in-person help; how- ever, they do not need to visit an externa outreach site to apply or update their application. They can apply for assis- tance or update an application by calling FEMA toll-free at 800-621-3362 (TTY: 800-462-7585) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. PDT, seven days a week or visiting DisasterAssistance.gov. Disaster survivors affected by the Oregon wildfires and straight-line winds can also talk with a FEMA mitigation specialist to get personalized advice to repair and rebuild safer and stronger. For information on how to rebuild safer and stronger, or to inquire as to your flood risk following a fire near you, email FEMA-R10-MIT@fema.dhs.gov. A FEMA hazard mitigation specialist will respond to survivor inquiries. November 2020 • Siletz News • 13
