11-20-2020 Oregon Wildfires 2020 Media Report (PDF)
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O REGON O FFICE OF E MERGENCY M ANAGEMENT Wildfire Recovery Media Monitoring Report November 17 - November 19, 2020 NOTE: This Recovery Information Center report captures news and other stories from local and national print and TV news sources, and social media. This provides a snapshot of news coverage and social media content regarding the Oregon 2020 Wildfire recovery and response. The purpose of this report is to provide a consistent overview of coverage within the scope of 2020 Oregon wildfires recovery. News Media Summary Trending news this week includes the FEMA disaster assistance deadline extension and the state’s announcement to cover wildfire cleanup. Housing options for displaced wildfire survivors are a priority for the winter. COVID-19 anxiety limits available food donations as holidays approach. News media continues to cover wildfire mitigation and prevention. Recovery costs drew media attention as Oregon’s congressional delegation seeks more federal funding. National News • Courthouse News, Nov. 18 – Amid Destruction on West Coast, Senate Looks at Wildfire Prevention Bills This summer, smoke from wildfires that burned hundreds of thousands of acres on the West Coast, stained midday skies across America in a hazy orange hue. Wednesday, U.S. Senators heard testimony from experts on how to prevent those aggressive flames from devastating future communities. Food & Water • KEZI, Nov. 16 – Two-week freeze anxiety fuels need for food donations LOVEfirst, the organization helping evacuees of the Holiday Farm Fire, is putting out a call for donations after a busy week that has drained supplies from the nonprofit. Housing & Shelter • KOBI, Nov. 18 – New Oregon program offers grant to buy motels/hotels for fire victims A new 65 million dollar state program is offering a grant to non-profits, housing authorities, and local communities to purchase a motel. The funds are being offered for Covid-19 related quarantine needs, shelter for the homeless, and housing for wildfire victims. • KEZI, Nov. 17 – Lane County considers buying hotel for wildfire victims Lane County is investigating the possibility of securing state funding for the purchase of a Eugene hotel in hopes of turning it into shelter space for those impacted by the Holiday Farm Fire. Health & Medical • Jefferson Public Radio, Nov. 16 – In The Wake Of The Wildfires, Some Children Are Suffering From Extreme Stress And Anxiety Hundreds of students in Talent and Phoenix lost their homes to Oregon.gov/OEM | Facebook @OMDOEM | Twitter @OregonOEM the Almeda Fire this September, just a week before school was supposed to start. Now some of them are showing signs of extreme stress and anxiety, causing school leaders and parents to consider resuming in-person classes again. Recovery & Rebuilding • KXL Radio, Nov. 15 – Oregon Wildfire Recap: 9 Killed, 24K Claims Filed, 1.2 Million Acres Burned, 4K Homes Destroyed FEMA reports more than 24,000 claims have been filed by homeowners affected by Oregon’s historic 2020 wildfire season. Nearly $26 million dollars in assistance has been approved. Those who qualify can apply at disasterassistance.gov. • The Oregonian, Nov. 15 – Rogue Valley Relief Fund helps hundreds start over after Almeda fire in southern Oregon: Season of Sharing 2020 … Now the Garcia family is starting over with help from the Rogue Valley Relief Fund, a beneficiary of The Oregonian/OregonLive’s 2020 Season of Sharing holiday fundraising campaign. • Mail Tribune, Nov. 16 – Deadline to sign up for FEMA fire aid extended The Federal Emergency Management Agency has extended the deadline for fire survivors to sign up for disaster aid to Monday, Nov. 30. (See also: Ashland Tidings, KOBI, KXL, KDRV, KQEN, KPIC) • KVAL, Nov. 16 – McKenzie River community deals with two disasters as holidays approach With the election and the upcoming freeze, it's easy to forget about the devastating wildfires earlier this year. But up the McKenzie River, many are still dealing with two disasters. • The News-Review, Nov. 17 – DTO wildfire relief is hitting big numbers Within days of the fire’s ignition, Douglas Timber Operators and the Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby (DTO/UFED) partnered to help families affected by the Archie Creek Fire. The intent was to provide rapid financial assistance to people who had lost everything in the fire. Many of DTO’s member companies wanted to help, but also needed to know that 100% of their contribution would stay local and help victims of the Archie Creek Fire. Recovery Costs • KDRV, Nov. 18 - Oregon's economic forecast stable despite continued COVID-19 impacts and limited aid Oregon's Congressional delegation has been pushing FEMA to shoulder the full cost of clean-up from the wildfires. As things stand, the state of Oregon will be on the hook to pay for costs that FEMA does not cover, with the full response and clean-up estimated to cost more than $1 billion. • KQEN, Nov. 18 - Oregon delegation urges FEMA to assume 100 percent cost share Oregon’s entire congressional delegation is urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assume 100 percent of the cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures from the wildfires that ripped through the state this year. (See also: Klamath Falls News) Agriculture • OPB, Nov. 17 – Oregon vintners, growers reeling from COVID-19 restrictions, smoke-affected grapes New coronavirus shutdown measures will impact Oregon winemakers, many of whom were already struggling to recover from the early shutdowns of their tasting rooms and the public-facing parts of their businesses. Over the summer, grape growers in the vicinity of the Oregon wildfires suffered from what’s known as smoke taint. In some cases, growers have lost buyers altogether and are struggling to find a way to survive. We discuss how the industry looks right now with Jim Bernau, the founder and CEO of Willamette Valley Vineyards. Page 2 of 4 Business Impacts • The News Guard, Nov. 15 – Disaster Recovery Guide available to help local businesses The Oregon Coast Community College Small Business Development Center has launched a new Disaster Recovery Guide for businesses impacted by the recent wildfires. This guide helps business owners understand and assess their situation so they can make the best decisions in the recovery process. • Willamette Week, Nov. 18 – The Owner of a New Japanese Comfort Food Restaurant Faced Two Challenges When Opening This Year: a Pandemic and Historic Wildfires David Edwards spent most of 2020 preparing to open his first restaurant during a pandemic. He wasn't prepared, however, to have to hold a grand opening while Portland was experiencing historically toxic air from wildfires. Environmental & Natural Resources • KTVL, Nov. 16 – Why fire debris water runoff is not a concern yet despite heavy rain All of the efforts to restore the Bear Creek Greenway have ended, due to weather. According to the Emergency Operations Center, volunteer contracts and EPA crews, are pretty well wrapped up. • KOBI, Nov. 16 – Erosion control holding up Jackson County has seen above-average rainfall over the past three days, leading to concerns that there could be fire debris runoff from the 9-mile Almeda Fire, but Emergency Center Director John Vial said measures put in place to mitigate runoff have been successful so far. • The World (Coos Bay), Nov. 17 – State analyzing post-fire erosion threats as part of recovery Oregon state agencies, federal and local partners formed a multi-agency team to analyze potential post-fire flooding and erosion threats on and below public and private lands as a result of September’s catastrophic wildfires in western Oregon. Firefighting & Mitigation • Firehouse, Nov. 15 - Forestry Official: OR's Firefighting System Needs Updating The Oregon Department of Forestry is still using a fire protection model dating back to the late 1960s and early 1970s despite finishing its worst wildfire season on record. • KPIC, Nov. 16 - Archie Creek Fire 100 percent contained, Thielsen Fire controlled The Roseburg District, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Umpqua National Forest are declaring that the Archie Creek Fire is 100% contained as of Monday, November 16, 2020. millions of acres burn along the West Coast, the United States must improve the way it manages forest fires. (See also: KQEN) • The Regulatory Review, Nov. 16 - Thinking Harder and Smarter About Wildland Fire As millions of acres burn along the West Coast, the United States must improve the way it manages forest fires. • The Oregonian, Nov. 18 - Governor circulating scaled-back legislative concept to reduce wildfire risks Despite the devastation wrought by Oregon’s Labor Day fires, Gov. Kate Brown has scaled back her ambitions when it comes to addressing the state’s wildfire risks -- in the near term at least. Hazardous Waste & Debris Cleanup • KTVL, Nov. 17 – Phase Two of hazardous waste cleanup offered free of charge The State of Oregon is offering free ash and large debris removal as part of Phase Two of the hazardous waste cleanup in wildfire-affected areas. Governor Kate Brown approved the funding on the advice of the Oregon Wildfire Economic Recovery Council last week. • Daily Hive, Nov. 17 – Wildfire ash and debris cleanup will be done at no cost: State of Oregon Page 3 of 4 Oregon residents whose homes and businesses were affected by the September wildfires can now rest assured that cleanup of wildfire ash and debris will be provided at no cost, the State of Oregon announced on Monday. • KQEN, Nov. 17 – State offers no-cost wildfire debris cleanup The State of Oregon will provide no-cost wildfire ash and debris cleanup for all homes and businesses in the eight counties, including Douglas, affected by the September wildfires. A release from the Oregon Office of Emergency Management made that announcement on Monday. • The News Guard, Nov. 17 – State offers no-cost wildfire debris cleanup for all Oregon homes and businesses The State of Oregon will provide no-cost wildfire ash and debris cleanup for all homes and businesses in the eight counties affected by the disastrous September wildfires, the Oregon Debris Management Task Force announced today.