Oregon Beach News 9/14 – Oregon Sea Otter Awareness Month, SOLVE Beach & Riverside Cleanup September 18–27 & Other Local and Statewide News…

The latest news stories across the state of Oregon from the digital home of the Oregon coastal cities, OregonBeachMagazine.com

Monday, September 14, 2026

Oregon Beach Weather

Here’s the overview of our weather outlook, but be sure to check out what we’re predicting in your area: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/extended-forecast

Please pay close attention to the weather conditions across the state.

Save on your phone or internet bill with Oregon Lifeline

National Lifeline Awareness Week runs Sept. 14-18

– During National Lifeline Awareness Week, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) is highlighting Oregon Lifeline, a federal and state government program that provides qualifying low-income households with access to discounted phone or high-speed internet service through participating providers, listed at lifeline.oregon.gov. Oregon Lifeline offers monthly discounts of up to $19.25 on phone service and up to $24.25 on high-speed internet service. The program also offers free wireless voice minutes and data through Access Wireless where coverage is available. Oregon residents on federally recognized Tribal lands may qualify for an additional $25 discount each month. To qualify, Oregonians must receive benefits from select public assistance programs, such as Medicaid or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Oregon Lifeline is limited to one benefit per household for either discounted or free service. Customers can apply in one of the following ways:

• To apply for free wireless service through Access Wireless, visit www.accesswireless.com.
• To apply for discounted phone or high‑speed internet service, individuals may submit an online application at https://bit.ly/4cCqliT.

For more information about Oregon Lifeline, visit lifeline.oregon.gov, or call 800-848-4442 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.  

Oregon is celebrating Sea Otter Awareness Month this September 2026 with the theme “Rooted in Resilience” to highlight the potential return of sea otters to the state’s coastline.

Sea otters have not lived in Oregon’s coastal waters since 1981, but this September a string of events from Eugene breweries to the Oregon Coast Aquarium is putting the animals back in the spotlight.

The Elakha Alliance, an Oregon nonprofit focused on restoring sea otters to the Oregon coast, is hosting Sea Otter Awareness Month programming throughout September, building toward Sea Otter Awareness Week from September 20 through September 26 along the Oregon coast.

Sea otters once lived all along the Oregon coast before the fur trade wiped them out locally. Conservation groups now work to bring these keystone species back to restore healthy marine habitats and kelp forests.

Oregon’s 2026 Sea Otter Awareness Month Events:

For event details and registration, visit www.elakhaalliance.org/event/sea-otter-awareness-week.

• Sept 15 – Sea Otter Drag Bingo Benefit at Breakside Brewery – Slabtown (6 p.m.-8 p.m.), Portland

• Sept 20 – Sea Otter Viewing Station at Oregon Zoo (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), Portland

• Sept 20 – Sea Otter Sip & Paint Night #1 at Fullerton Wines (6 p.m.-8 p.m.), Portland

• Sept 22 – Float Down the Coast Livestream, Virtual (12 p.m.-1 p.m.)

• Sept 22 – Sea Otter Pint Night at Claim 52 Brewing (5 p.m.-8 p.m.), Eugene

• Sept 23 – Sea Otter Sip & Paint Night #2 at Fullerton Wines (6 p.m.-8 p.m.), Portland

• Sept 24 – Sea Otter Bingo at Claim 52 Bayfront (6 p.m.-8 p.m.), Newport

• Sept 26 – Sea Otter Viewing Station at Oregon Coast Aquarium (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) Newport

• Sept 26 – Sea Otter Extravaganza at The Portland Aquarium (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) Portland

This year’s theme, Rooted in Resilience, focuses on the connections that help coastal ecosystems thrive and on the relationship between sea otters, kelp forests and coastal ecosystems. Events include educational programs, viewing stations, art events and other activities, with locations spanning the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Coast Aquarium. The Elakha Alliance has partnered with organizations and businesses across Oregon to host the community events, including local breweries and the Portland Aquarium. One highlight on the calendar is a Sea Otter Pint Night at Claim 52 Brewing in Eugene, set for September 22 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Coastal Communities Needed to Lead Cleanups This September – SOLVE calls on Oregon Coast residents and community groups to host cleanup projects during annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup, September 18–27

Coastal communities have already shown what’s possible when they come together to protect Oregon’s coast. Following 18 coastal cleanups on July 5 that brought together 667 volunteers and removed 7,393 pounds of litter, SOLVE is calling on more coastal residents, businesses and community groups to help keep that momentum going this September.

From September 18-27, SOLVE’s annual Beach & Riverside Cleanup will bring volunteers together across Oregon and Southwest Washington to remove litter, marine debris and invasive species while caring for beaches, rivers and waterways. The cleanup includes International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 19, a global effort that brings communities together to protect coastlines from litter and marine debris.

More coastal cleanup leaders are needed to host projects this September. Event leaders don’t need to have previous experience or organize everything on their own. SOLVE provides support to make hosting a cleanup easy, including cleanup supplies, permitting guidance, volunteer registration and project resources.

How to Get Involved

Those interested in hosting a coastal cleanup during Beach & Riverside Cleanup can learn more and sign up at solveoregon.org/beach-riverside.

SOLVE is also encouraging coastal residents who aren’t able to lead a project to participate in an existing cleanup or help spread the word.

About SOLVE  — SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solve.org for more information or follow SOLVEPNW on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. 

Travelers should expect traffic shifts, delays and possible backups on U.S. 101 in Seaside while crews repair sections of damaged pavement.

Work is scheduled Monday, Sept. 14 and Tuesday, Sept. 15 between 12th and 16th Streets (milepost 20). Crews will work from about 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

Crews will pave sections of the road to smooth wheel ruts and repair potholes and cracks, creating a smoother ride for travelers.

What to expect:

• Daytime lane closures shifting traffic into the center turn lane.
• Congestion, backups and delays through the work area.
• Crews and equipment working close to traffic.
• Construction noise.

Slow down, watch for crews and equipment and follow directions from flaggers through the work zone. Construction schedules are weather dependent and subject to change.

Coos County Sheriff’s Office – On September 5th, 2026, a sailboat was found partially submerged in Coos Bay, abandoned and derelict.

Coos County Sheriff Marine Deputies coordinated with other personnel and State agencies for assistance in removing the vessel.

Thursday September 10th, Marine Deputies and Search & Rescue personnel began pumping water out of the vessel so it could be towed from the location. Once the boat was floating it was pulled off, “Clam Island,” and towed to the Charleston shipyard, removed from the water, and secured.

Dearlect vessels are a continuing issue state wide and our local Coos County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division does everything they can to keep our waterways safe and navigable.

“Police action is not indicative of guilt. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Florence Chamber to Host Ambassador Conference

The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce will host the 2026 Oregon State Chamber Ambassador Conference October 1st through 3rd at Three Rivers Casino Resort. The annual event will bring Chamber Ambassador volunteers from communities across Oregon to Florence for leadership training, professional development, and networking. Chamber President and CEO Bettina Hannigan says the conference is an opportunity to showcase Florence as a destination for meetings and conventions while generating business for local hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions. Organizers expect hundreds of attendees from throughout the state.

West Coast Game Park Safari Owner Brian Tenney Sentenced to More Than 7 Years In Prison

West Coast Game Park Safari owner Brian Tenney was sentenced Tuesday to more than seven years in prison after pleading guilty earlier this year to dozens of felony charges, most involving animal neglect.

In April 2026, Brian Tenney pleaded guilty to dozens of felony charges, most involving animal neglect.

The judge sentenced Tenney to 90 months in the custody of the Oregon Department of Corrections, followed by three years of post-prison supervision. Tenney was also ordered to pay more than $340,000 in restitution to multiple organizations.

The sentence also includes 15 years of statutory probation on possessing numerous classes of animals and all other collateral consequences associated with felony convictions.

The state said the resolution in the case came from several factors, including the speed at which Tenney and his attorneys voluntarily agreed to give up the animals, the speed at which the plea offer was accepted and Tenney’s agreement to restitution.

The sentencing comes more than a year after law enforcement confiscated hundreds of animals from West Coast Game Park Safari in May 2025. Investigators at the time said many of the animals had been neglected and left starving.

Levi H. Green – Murder II Coos County Sheriff’s Office

On September 28, 2025, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a 9-year-old male who had been stabbed with a spear at a residence off of Cape Arago Highway. It was reported to Deputies on scene that the boy’s sister had accidentally stabbed him during play with a spear. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that the boy had in fact been stabbed by his father, Levi Higgins-Green.

Also uncovered during the investigation were instances of domestic violence involving the other adults and children who lived in the home which occurred over years. It should be noted that names have been omitted at the specific request of the surviving family.

On August 31, 2026, Levi Higgins Green submitted a plea of Guilty to the following crimes: Strangulation – Constituting Domestic ViolenceAssault in the Third DegreeAssault in the Second Degree – Constituting Domestic ViolenceAssault in the Third Degree (Second Count)Criminal Mistreatment in the First DegreeCriminal Mistreatment in the First Degree (Second Count)Murder in the Second Degree

The Honorable Judge Martin Stone accepted the plea and sentenced Levi Higgins-Green to a combined sentence of 80 months (6.6 years) for the first six listed charges and an additional life sentence (minimum of 25 years or 300 months) for a total minimum prison sentence of 380 months or 31.6 years of prison. This case was investigated by the Coos County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from Coos Bay Police Department, Oregon State Police, Kids Hope Center, Charleston Fire Department, Bay Cities Ambulance and Eugene Police Department. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Jody Newby.

Armed Suspect Shot and Killed by Police in Seaside Sunday

Shortly after 6:30 p.m. Sunday, officers from the Seaside Police Department were called to a disturbance with shots fired in the 1700 block of 12th Avenue, according to the Clatsop County DA’s Office (CCDA).

Upon arrival, officers were “confronted” by an armed suspect and “shots were fired,” according to the CCDA, leaving the suspect dead. No officers were hurt. No further details have been made available, and an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

New Tsunami Guidance Could Save Lives on the Oregon Coast

A major earthquake along Oregon’s coast could give people just minutes to escape a tsunami, leaving some coastal communities with little time to reach higher ground.

In response, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management has developed new guidance designed to help communities determine where vertical evacuation structures are needed and how they can be built.

In the event of a major tsunami triggered by a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, dispatchers at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management would help coordinate rescue efforts.

Oregon faces a two-fold threat along the coast: an earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone followed by a tsunami.

RELATED: The Cascadia Subduction Zone looks a little different than researchers thought. Here’s what that means for ‘The Big One’

An earthquake could last three to five minutes, according to Bridget Good with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management.

A large earthquake would trigger a tsunami, potentially leaving some people with little time to reach higher ground.

A vertical evacuation structure is a structure built within the tsunami zone that is designed to provide safety above the inundation level, Good said. Such structures could take several forms, including a tower, hospital, school or apartment complex.

There are currently three vertical evacuation structures in the U.S.: two in Washington and one in Oregon at Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.

The structures can provide elevated areas during a tsunami, but some coastal communities are far enough from high ground that reaching it could take too long.

Oregon needs at least 20 more structures along the coast, said Stephen Richardson with the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, but the structures are expensive.

The state’s new guidance is intended to help communities determine where the structures are needed. It also addresses questions about how buildings would withstand the first wave and how they would accommodate people with disabilities. For example, the guidance considers accessibility needs in emergencies when elevators may not operate.

The goal is to give coastal communities another option when they may have only minutes to react.

Officials say knowing where to go before the shaking begins could make all the difference when a major Cascadia earthquake strikes. (SOURCE)

Coos Bay Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting Children in the United States and Abroad

A Coos Bay, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for using a minor to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and attempting to use a separate minor to produce CSAM.

Thomas Owen Barnett, 40, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison and 15 years’ supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.

“This defendant used the internet to exploit children within the United States and abroad. He hid his identity while forcing children to be exposed. We have now exposed Barnett for the criminal he is. Children deserve to be safe online and in their own homes. I hope the children he harmed find healing after these traumatic events,” said Scott E. Bradford.

“Today’s sentence underscores the FBI’s focus on stopping those who exploit children,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “Barnett’s actions caused real harm, and I’m grateful to the North Bend Police Department and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding assistance. Their teamwork with our agents and the U.S. Attorney’s Office was essential to bringing this case to justice.”

According to court documents, between September and December 2023, Barnett encouraged a minor victim to create and send him CSAM.  In September 2024, Barnett distributed CSAM of that minor victim on Kik, an online chat platform, and sought money in exchange. That same month, Barnett posed as the minor victim online and asked a man in another country to make and send him CSAM depicting the man’s very young child.

On February 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a four-count indictment charging Barnett with sexual exploitation of a child, attempted sexual exploitation of a child, as well as possession and distribution of child pornography.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the North Bend Police Department and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Seaside Postmaster Charged with Distribution & Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

—The Seaside Postmaster has been charged with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material and production of obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon

Ryan Sherman, 36, has been charged by criminal complaint and made his initial appearance in federal court today.

According to court documents, Sherman was in possession of dozens of images and videos of child sexual abuse material. In addition to possessing images and videos Sheman produced obscene child sexual abuse images for people he talked to on the internet, taking innocuous photographs of children and using artificial intelligence (AI) to turn them into obscene images. Sherman exchanged child abuse material on SimpleX with other members of a chat group. When asked by an individual seeking obscene images whether he had any limit to the images he would or could create, defendant bragged that he had “none.” Sherman occupies a position of trust as the Postmaster for Seaside, Oregon.

On August 25, 2026, Sherman was arrested in Seaside, Oregon.

Sherman made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

The FBI and Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case, with assistance from the Seaside Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Geiling is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Construction on the new 86-room Braun Hospitality hotel in Florence is moving into its final stages.

Matt Braun says the building’s exterior envelope is complete, interior painting is underway, and crews will begin site concrete work, including curbs and sidewalks, next week. Braun says favorable weather has also helped keep the project on budget and allowed savings to be redirected toward additions including a mural, outdoor fire pit and locally produced artwork.

Substantial construction is expected to wrap up in mid-December, with furnishings and equipment installed in January. Braun says the hotel will begin hiring late this year and expects to employ about 22 to 24 people when fully staffed. The hotel is currently expected to reach final completion around January 18th.

Homes For Good Planning Affordable Housing in Florence

Homes for Good is moving forward with plans for a new affordable housing development on Quince Street in Florence. Project developer Marissa Johnson says the proposed Field on Quince project would include three residential buildings with 88 units, including a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments.

About 70 to 73 units are currently planned for households at 50-percent of area median income, with another 15 to 18 units designated as workforce housing. The nearly seven-acre site at 505 Quince Street would also include community spaces, gardens, play areas, dog runs, bicycle storage and a connection to the estuary trail.

Homes for Good is now preparing its application for an Oregon Housing and Community Services impact assessment, with financial closing typically taking one to two years. with construction to begin within the next 4 years

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Oregon State Police Investigating Vandalism at Multiple Oregon State Parks

Oregon State Police is investigating extensive vandalism that occurred at multiple Oregon State Parks in Lincoln County. The vandalism occurred sometime between approximately 10:00 p.m. on August 21, 2026, and 7:00 a.m. on August 22, 2026.

Multiple state park restroom facilities were targeted, with damage ranging from the removal of paper towel dispensers to the destruction and removal of fixtures and other items from inside the facilities. Fires were also intentionally started at several of the locations.

The affected locations may include:

• Agate Beach State Wayside
• Otter Rock State Park
• Gleneden Beach State Park
• Fogarty Creek State Park

OSP is seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in or around these locations during the timeframe of the incidents. Investigators are also asking anyone with video footage from roads leading to or adjacent to the affected state parks to review their recordings for potentially relevant activity.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact OSP Dispatch at 800-442-0776 or by dialing OSP (677) from a mobile phone. Please referencecase number SP26-274452.

Tillamook Air Museum Announces Partnership with Vintage Aviation Museum

The Port of Tillamook Bay Commissioners have approved a term sheet for the land lease and future sale of Tillamook’s historic World War II-era Hangar B to Vintage Aviation Museum, a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

With Vintage Aviation Museum set to assume operation of the Museum from the Port of Tillamook Bay and become its future owner and operator, an exciting new chapter is beginning for the Museum. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚: 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢.

Our identity is deeply connected to Tillamook, Naval Air Station Tillamook, historic Hangar B, and the people and stories that have shaped this remarkable place for more than eight decades. Preserving and sharing that history will remain at the heart of everything we do.

Work is already beginning behind the scenes as we are preparing to welcome visitors back to the museum. We look forward to sharing a reopening date as plans move forward.Vintage Aviation Museum plans to relocate most of its aircraft collection to Tillamook, bringing additional historic aircraft to Hangar B and expanding the Museum’s aviation collection. Looking ahead, the vision is to utilize the entire historic blimp hangar for aviation-related exhibits, aircraft displays, preservation, education, and visitor experiences.

The future of historic Hangar B will remain a priority. Following the Museum’s reopening, efforts will continue toward the repair, restoration, and long-term preservation of this extraordinary piece of Oregon and American aviation history so that it can be preserved and enjoyed by visitors for generations to come.

At the Tillamook Air Museum, we have always believed in thinking big, taking chances, and finding new ways to bring aviation history to life. Operating as part of a nonprofit organization will provide greater flexibility to pursue new opportunities, partnerships, funding sources, and projects as the Museum moves forward. Visitors can expect us to keep pursuing ambitious projects exploring new ideas and creating opportunities that keep the Museum moving forward.

Just as importantly, we will continue strengthening our connection with the community we call home. Education and outreach will remain an important part of our mission, including working with local schools and developing partnerships throughout our community.

We want to recognize and thank the Port of Tillamook Bay, which has owned and operated the Tillamook Air Museum for more than a decade. We have enjoyed a strong and supportive relationship with the Port, and the Museum would not be what it is today without their trust, support, and belief in our mission.

We are deeply grateful for everything they have done to help us grow and look forward to continuing that relationship into the future. Our relationship with the Friends of the Tillamook Air Museum (FOTAM) will remain an important part of our future. FOTAM’s volunteers have provided tremendous support to the museum and its mission, and we are incredibly grateful for their dedication and hard work. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with FOTAM as we move forward together.

For those who would like to be part of this next chapter, contributions to Vintage Aviation Museum can help support exhibit preparation, restoration, and other work associated with preparing the Tillamook Air Museum to once again welcome the public.

𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙑𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙫𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢: https://www.zeffy.com/…/7577fb8f-4c8d-4f84-94d9… We look forward to what comes next and, most importantly, to welcoming you back to the Tillamook Air Museum.Additional information, including updates on our progress and a reopening date, will be shared as plans move forward.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙑𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙫𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢 The Vintage Aviation Museum is a Utah-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving historic aircraft, aviation artifacts, and the stories of the people who shaped aviation history. Through preservation, education, exhibits, and visitor experiences, the museum works to ensure that America’s aviation heritage remains accessible to future generations.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙏𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝘼𝙞𝙧 𝙈𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙪𝙢Housed in historic World War II-era Hangar B, the Tillamook Air Museum is a dynamic and ever-changing aviation museum dedicated to bringing history to life. Featuring a diverse collection of historic aircraft, immersive displays, hands-on interactive exhibits, and unique visitor experiences, the museum shares the remarkable story of Naval Air Station Tillamook while exploring aviation and military history from across the nation and around the world. The Tillamook Air Museum believes history should be experienced, not simply observed, and continues to find new and exciting ways to make the past accessible, educational, and fun for visitors of all ages.

Bandon Police Department · PRESS RELEASE Public Safety Warning: Power Line Wire Theft in the greater Bandon area

We are warning residents about a recent rash of power line thefts in the greater Bandon area, including Coos & Curry counties involving individuals illegally cutting and removing wire from utility infrastructure.

These incidents are extremely dangerous. Cutting power lines can result in severe injury or death, not only to the person attempting to remove the wire but also to nearby residents, utility workers, and members of the public.

Damaged power lines and utility equipment can also create an extreme risk of fire, particularly in dry conditions.

Residents are asked to remain alert and report suspicious activity around utility poles and power infrastructure.If you see someone near a utility pole or power line who does not appear to be a legitimate utility worker, please contact law enforcement immediately. Do not approach or confront the individual.

Anyone who observes suspicious activity should note the location, description of the person or vehicle, and direction of travel, if it can be done safely.

Cutting or tampering with power lines is a serious felony criminal offense and may result in felony charges which may include, Domestic Terrorism in the 1st Degree. Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, additional serious charges may also be considered.

The safety of our community depends on everyone remaining vigilant. If you see something suspicious, please report it rather than putting yourself at risk.If you see suspicious activity involving utility infrastructure, call police immediately.

Oregon Leaders Push FEMA to Restore Tsunami Grant for Columbia Memorial Hospital

Oregon leaders are calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fulfill a stalled grant meant to prepare Astoria’s Columbia Memorial Hospital for a tsunami. The grant included $14 million in federal funds with a $6 million match from the state.

While FEMA previously selected Columbia Memorial Hospital as a grant recipient, the agency announced in 2025 that it was ending the grant program, which retroactively canceled the hospital’s grant.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield won a court challenge against FEMA, with the court ruling that FEMA must restore the grant.

Despite the ruling, the hospital still hasn’t received the funds. On Wednesday, Democratic Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Oregon House Rep. Cyrus Javadi (D-Tillamook), Clatsop County Commission Chair Mark Kujala, alongside CMH CEO Erik Thorsen, held a press conference at the hospital and called on FEMA to fulfill the grant.

The stalled funding refers to a $14 million federal grant awarded to Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Astoria, Oregon, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.

The grant was originally intended to help the hospital construct a tsunami vertical evacuation structure and fortify its $300 million expansion project against a major Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. However, the federal funds remain frozen following a complex legal and political battle.

Why the Funding is Stalled

• Program Cancellation: The Trump administration abruptly canceled the BRIC grant program, putting a halt to active local resilience projects across the country.
• Legal Victory Without Payout: In December 2025, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield won a federal court challenge against FEMA. The judge ruled that the administration unlawfully terminated the program and ordered the grants to be restored.
• Lack of Communication: Despite the legal ruling, FEMA has allegedly withheld the funds and provided Columbia Memorial Hospital leaders with almost no communication.

Port Orford is pursuing millions of dollars in state financing to overhaul its aging water system, as officials contend with obsolete equipment, leaking pipes and rising costs to keep the treatment plant running.

Port Orford is moving forward with plans to address major problems in its aging water system, as city officials race to overhaul the system before more of it fails.

Port Orford’s water treatment plant dates to the late 1970s. Officials say some equipment is obsolete, old distribution lines are leaking and the plant’s filtration system is no longer working as designed.

Public Works Superintendent John Isadore said the malfunctioning filtration system requires excessive backwashing and costs the city more than $60,000 a year in wasted water, electricity, chemicals and overtime. Backwashing is a cleaning process that forces clean, filtered water back through the filter, flushing out trapped debris and impurities.

“The plant’s running itself to death,” Isadore told the city council during a special meeting Wednesday.

City officials estimate the filtration problems require about 3.3 million gallons of additional treated water each year for backwashing alone. During periods of high turbidity in the winter, crews sometimes have to run the plant around the clock.

The city is currently studying whether major parts of the treatment plant should be repaired or replaced. Isadore said an engineer working on the feasibility study has raised the possibility that building a new plant could be more economical than rehabilitating the existing one.

Councilors voted unanimously Wednesday to pursue state funding for a multimillion-dollar overhaul of the system.

The city plans to apply through Oregon’s Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. A preliminary funding scenario discussed by councilors was about $6.7 million, with up to $1.5 million eligible for loan forgiveness. The remainder could be financed at 1% interest over 30 years. The final project cost has not been determined.

But the city would still have to come up with a way to repay its share.

Councilors discussed two main options: raising water rates or asking voters to approve a property-tax levy. A rate increase could be approved by the council, while a property-tax levy would require a public vote.

Councilor Brett Webb raised concerns about increasing costs for community members who may already be struggling to keep up with rising prices. “We want to give them water,” Webb said, “but we can’t take their food away so they have water.

The council has not approved a rate increase, tax levy or specific borrowing amount.

Wednesday’s vote instead authorized the city to move ahead with the application process while officials gather more detailed engineering and financial information. The city can still withdraw if it cannot assemble a viable project and repayment plan. (SOURCE)

Honeyman Memorial State Park closed in early 2027 for tree removal

Oregon State Parks will remove over 150 dead or unhealthy trees in Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park campground and day use area. During the removal work, the campground will be closed for several days. The length of the closure and exact timing is still being determined.

“OPRD implements a hazard tree inspection program that is crucial for identifying trees that are exhibiting signs of health decline and could become hazardous to people and infrastructure,” said Kathryn Charlton, Coastal Region Forester.

The project will take about a month and a half beginning in January 2027. A hired contractor will remove approximately 20 dead and unhealthy trees from Cleawox day use area around Cleawox Lake. They will remove about another 145 trees with declining health and structural issues from the campground area. Specifically, Loop H will see the removal of around 55 shore pines and several large Sitka spruce with decay and structural issues will be removed in Loops A, B and C.

As part of Oregon State Parks’ commitment to safety and stewardship, tree maintenance and removal is a regular occurrence. Information about the closure will be posted on the park web page and Oregon State Parks social media.

“We are providing this early notice so folks can plan accordingly with their camping plans,” said Park Manager Ryan Warren. “This campground is a popular destination, so we wanted to give visitors advance notice of this hazard tree project.”

Oregon State Parks will donate some of the logs from these trees to Suislaw Soil and Water Conservation District and Smith River Watershed Council l to place in streams for riparian and aquatic habitat restoration efforts. For some of these large trees, a short portion of the lower stem will be left standing to become snag. Snags provide food, nesting and denning resources for wildlife such as birds and small mammals that use the park as habitat.

Reedsport Fire Department Seeks Volunteer Ham Radio Operators

The Reedsport Volunteer Fire Department is looking for volunteers interested in becoming licensed ham radio operators to support emergency communications in western Douglas County. Training is online and offered at no charge.

The Reedsport Volunteer Fire Department is looking for volunteers interested in becoming licensed ham radio operators to support emergency communications in western Douglas County.

The volunteers would work with the Western Douglas County Emergency Operations Center, located at the Reedsport Fire Station at 2680 Frontage Road.

According to the department, training is offered online at no charge. A background check is required for anyone interested in the volunteer positions.

Ham radio operators can play an important role during major emergencies, especially when normal communication systems are down. In those situations, radio operators may help keep local emergency officials connected with county, state and federal agencies.

The department said the positions are vital because ham radio could become one of the last available ways to communicate during an emergency incident.

Anyone interested in learning more can contact Melvina Adolf at 928-200-0979 or the Reedsport Fire Department at 541-271-2423.

Oregon Whale Sightings

Oregon Whale Sightings is a fun place to hear about and report cetaceans along our beautiful coastline.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1176168644064352/

Puffins on the Oregon Coast

Friends of Haystack Rock  · We have puffins!

Check out our website, Friendsofhaystackrock.org to see them live! We have our webcam zoomed in on a couple active burrows. Your best chance to see them is in the morning between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Organized by the Haystack Rock Awareness Program and Friends of Haystack Rock, the free event will not only celebrate the return of the puffins to their Oregon nesting grounds but also give the public the chance to spy on the birds as well. Interpretive rangers will be on hand with binoculars and spotting scopes to help people safely observe the tufted puffins.

Respect Nesting Areas to Protect Threatened Snowy Plover Mar. 15 through Sept. 15

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and Siuslaw National Forest remind visitors to the Oregon Coast that western snowy plover nesting season begins March 15 and runs through Sept. 15.

Beachgoers can help recovery efforts for the threatened shorebird by observing recreation restrictions at designated plover beaches.

Sensitive plover nesting areas are identified on maps for the northern Oregon Coast and southern Oregon Coast. Western snowy plovers nest in dry sand above the high tide line and are often difficult to see because they camouflage well.

To help protect these tiny shorebirds, please stay on wet sand and leave your dogs at home or at your campsite, even if they are leashed. Visitors may notice signs at trailheads with additional rules and limitations. There may be rope fencing in dry sand areas; this fencing delineates some, but not all, of the critical plover habitat that should be avoided.

Background on plover protections — Several land managers oversee beach activity for plover protection, primarily the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). For more information on how plovers are managed in Oregon, see the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP): https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/PCB/Documents/WSP-HCP_08182010-web.pdf.

Donor Offers $50K Reward in 40-Year-Old Case of Missing Oregon Coast Teen

Lincoln County authorities hope the recent offer from an anonymous donor of a $50,000 reward will lead to the remains of a 17-year-old Siletz girl who was last seen walking on U.S. 20 more than four decades ago.

An anonymous donor put up money hoping it will spur information that leads not only to Kelly Disney’s remains but also to the conviction of her killer, according to the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office.

The DA’s Office has confirmed that an anonymous donor offered the reward for any information leading to Disney’s remains and/or the conviction of her killer.

Information can be submitted anonymously at 541-265-0669 or online at FindKellyDisney@co.lincoln.or.us

READ MORE on CASE: https://lincolnchronicle.org/15597-2/

Nearly 50 years after the bodies of two teens from Alaska were found on the Oregon coast, authorities are still seeking answers into the unsolved case.

In 1978, Teresa M. Krause and Elena Jacobs were reported missing by the Tongue Point Job Corps center in Astoria.

Later that year, their bodies were found in the area of Del Rey Beach near Gearhart. Alisha Holland and Josh McCulloug, co-hosts of the Murder in the Rain podcast, joined us on AM Extra’s True Crime Tuesday to look back at the unsolved double homicide. https://www.murderintherain.com

Wildlife Center of the North Coast · We need your help! 

Make a difference in wildlife rescue! Join our Wild at Heart Membership Program starting at just $5/month. Help us save lives! https://coastwildlife.org/wild-at-heart/

It’s been a busy summer here at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast, and our rehab clinic has gone through lots of supplies caring for patients!!

->> To help us restock and stay prepared for the next wave of wildlife in need, we’ve updated our Amazon Wishlist with the items we need most. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LU97SQA0VPZA

Every donation—big or small—goes directly to helping orphaned, injured, and sick wildlife get a second chance at life. Check out our wishlist here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/LU97SQA0VPZA Thank you for being part of our wildlife rescue family! 

Volunteers are being sought to help prepare and serve lunch three times a week at the Florence Senior and Activity Center.  

They serve lunch Monday, Wednesday, and Friday each week. Both programs, the in-house dining known as Cafe 60, and Meals on Wheels, are very important in helping promote socialization and nutrition for older adults in Lane County.  Volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels use their own vehicles, but they can be reimbursed for their mileage.  The Lane Council of Governments operates the Senior and Disabled Services in Lane County.  Alisa Andrion encourages potential volunteers to give her a call at L-COG, 541-682-1366.

Gleneden Beach Community Club Events

Look what’s coming up soon at the Club… (sign up at glenedenbeach.org)

Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Follow on Facebook: Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay

Oregon Food Bank · Find free food sites near you using OregonFoodFinder.org.

If you can’t make it to a food location, someone else can pick up food for you.You will just need to print and fill out the Authorized Representative form at https://lnkd.in/dsskUpkQ, and have them take it with them to the food sites. You can find step-by-step instructions at https://lnkd.in/dVBRxn-A.

Worried about recent changes or losing assistance?

Here are resources that can help:

211Info:  Dial 2-1-1 or visit the211Info food webpagefor information and referrals to more than 1,500 food resources across Oregon.

Oregon Food Bank:  Use the Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder Mapto find over 100 food pantries, free food markets or hot meal programs near you. 

Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon (ADRC): Call 855-673-2372 or visit theADRC food webpage to find local meal programs and food boxes in your area. 

Oregon Department of Human Services – Many Oregonians may qualify for SNAP work or activity rule exemptions without realizing it

Could you qualify for an exemption to SNAP work or activity rules? Contact us so we can talk about your situation and your options! Common reasons people might qualify include:- You’re pregnant.- You’re physically or mentally unable to work.- You’re already working enough hours to meet the requirement.- You’re participating in a qualifying education or training program.- You have moved to an exempt county or waived Tribal land.- You are responsible for caring for a child or another person, depending on their circumstances.

Learn more about exemptions in this news release: https://apps.oregon.gov/…/many-oregonians-may-qualify…Or visit https://oregon.gov/snapworkrules to find information about SNAP work rules and more.

9/14/2026 — Gas Prices in Oregon Today

Oregon National Guard marks 25th anniversary of September 11th terrorist Attacks

— Oregon National Guard members joined ceremonies throughout the state on Sept. 11, 2026, to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Events were held at the Major General George A. White Building in Salem, the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial at Microchip Technologies in Gresham, and the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.

On September 11, 2001, a total of 2,977 individuals lost their lives, including all 246 passengers and crew members, as well as the 19 hijackers, aboard the four aircraft involved in the attacks. The 25th anniversary commemorated these events by bringing together Oregon Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen to honor those who died in the immediate aftermath and during subsequent military operations.

At the Salem ceremony, Chaplain (Col.) Jacob Scott, Oregon National Guard state chaplain, delivered the invocation. He asked for comfort, shelter, and protection while remembering the shock and sorrow Americans experienced 25 years ago.

Brig. Gen. David N. Unruh, Air Component Commander, Oregon National Guard, spoke about the importance of remembering September 11 and the perspective it provides today.

“We couldn’t just let today go by unmarked like any other,” Unruh said. “Remembrance helps us make meaning of our own lives.”

Unruh reflected on the lives lost in New York City, at the Pentagon and in rural Pennsylvania, where passengers aboard Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers.

“The loss of life that day and in the wars that followed is heartbreaking,” Unruh said. “Yet equally as profound are the stories of heroism, from the first responders to ordinary Americans who simply pitched in to help where they could.”

Oregon Army National Guard Russell Gibson, Assistant Adjutant General, also delivered remarks during the ceremony.

Scott encouraged those gathered to carry forward the example of the first responders and others who moved toward danger to help people in need.

“Put one foot in front of another and take the next step,” Scott said. “Climb the stairs. Do what it takes to serve those in need.”

Scott connected their example to opportunities to serve others today.

“Take the next step. We do what’s right,” Scott said. “If we do that, we’ll honor those who died on 9/11 and those heroes who went before us.”

The ceremony included a moment of silence for those killed in the attacks. The Oregon Army National Guard’s 234th Army Band performed “God Bless America,” followed by the sounding of “TAPS.”

During the 9/11 Honor and Remember Gold Star Families’ Memorial ceremony in Gresham, Oregon, Army National Guard Sgt. Scott Steele performed “TAPS” at a commemorative display of 300 “Honor and Remember Flags” at Microchip Technologies, followed by Chaplain (Capt.) Wes Moldogo, who provided the opening prayer, saying that 9/11 changed our nation forever and impacted countless military families in the years to follow.

“Especially for our Gold Star families: the parents, spouses, children, siblings, and loved ones that carry both the profound pride and the enduring sorrow.”

As the Master of Ceremonies, Greg Matthews, a retired Gresham Fire Department Chief and former Oregon House of Representatives member who represented District 50 from 2009 to 2015, introduced Oregon Air National Guard Col. Ryan Barton, who serves as the deputy commander of the Oregon Joint Domestic Operations Command.

“Colonel Barton manages the day-to-day administration, planning, and execution of all the processes and programs preparing the Oregon National Guard for continued operations in either federal or state emergencies, including mandates and natural disasters,” Matthews said.

“With many people trying to escape the danger that morning, it was firefighters, police officers, paramedics, and other first responders who were already moving toward the danger,” Barton said, remembering the events of twenty-five years ago. “Throughout my career, I have always felt a strong connection between the military and those who serve our communities. September 11th showed the very best of that shared commitment and the courage in the face of uncertainty.”

Ready Oregon Youth Art Contest for Preparedness Month

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) invites young artists across the state to participate in the Ready Oregon Youth Art Contest and show us what community preparedness means to them.

Oregon youth in grades K–12 are encouraged to create an original piece of art showing how people can work together to prepare for emergencies and disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, floods, winter storms and more.

Need some inspiration? Learn how you, your family and your community can prepare for emergencies through Oregon’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program.

Who Can Enter? — The contest is FREE and open to all youth in grades K–12 in Oregon.

Entries will be judged in four grade-level categories:

• Kindergarten–2nd grade
• 3rd–5th grade
• 6th–8th grade
• 9th–12th grade

Each category will recognize a First Place, Runner-Up and Honorable Mention. Youth may submit one entry each.

Artwork Requirements — Artwork should creatively answer the question: What does community preparedness mean to you?

Whether preparedness means neighbors helping neighbors, families building emergency kits, communities practicing evacuation plans or people looking out for one another during a disaster, we want to see preparedness through the eyes of Oregon’s youth.

Submissions must meet the following requirements:

• Medium: Original two-dimensional artwork, including painting, drawing or mixed media.
• Size: Between 8″ × 10″ and 11″ × 14″.
• Format: Artwork must be created on a flat surface. Canvas, cardstock or poster board are recommended.
• Original work: Artwork must be 100% original and created solely by the student. AI-generated images and copyrighted characters are not permitted.

How to Enter — Each submission must include the following information:

• Artist’s name
• Grade level
• Name of parent, guardian or other contact person
• Contact person’s relationship to the artist
• Contact person’s phone number
• Contact person’s email address
• A short description of the artwork

Artwork may be mailed to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management or dropped off at an approved local, county or Tribal emergency management office.

Approved Artwork Drop-Off Locations

Ready Oregon Youth Art Contest entries may be dropped off at any of the approved locations below. Please review each location’s hours and instructions before visiting.

Eastern Oregon

Malheur County Emergency Management
151 B St. W.
Vale, OR 97918

Please address or deliver artwork to the Malheur County Emergency Manager.

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) – Public Safety Building
46400 Timíne Way
Pendleton, OR 97801

Drop-off location: Public Safety Building lobby

Northwest Oregon

Grand Ronde Fire Station
28480 McPherson Drive
Grand Ronde, OR 97347

Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Willamina Fire Station
825 Main Street
Willamina, OR 97396

Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Please note: Emergency services staff may occasionally be away from the stations while responding to calls or emergencies.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office – Support Services
225 W. Olive Street, Room 203
Newport, OR 97365

Hours: Monday–Thursday
8 a.m.–noon and 1–5 p.m.
Closed noon–1 p.m. and Fridays.

Drop-off instructions: Enter through the courthouse public entrance and proceed through security. Once inside, go upstairs to the service window at Room 203 and provide the artwork to staff.

Willamette Valley

City of Eugene – The Atrium
99 W. 10th Avenue
Eugene, OR

Drop-off location: Reception desk
Hours: Noon–4 p.m.

Please route artwork to: Althea Sullivan

North Central Oregon

Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office
701 Adams Street
Fossil, OR 97830

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Mailing Option

Artwork may also be mailed directly to:

Oregon Department of Emergency Management
3930 Fairview Industrial Drive SE
Salem, OR 97302

Please ensure mailed entries arrive by the contest deadline: 5 p.m. Friday, September 25, 2026.

Important Dates — All entries must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, September 25, 2026. Winners will be notified by Friday, October 2, 2026. Get creative, get prepared and show us what a ready Oregon looks like to you!

Oregon Governor Proclaims September Preparedness Month

 — Gov. Tina Kotek has proclaimed September as Preparedness Month in Oregon, underscoring the importance of readiness and resilience across the state. The proclamation serves as a rallying point for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and its partners to amplify preparedness messaging and activities statewide. It also invites all Oregonians to take proactive steps to safeguard their families, homes, and communities against future disasters. 

“OEM remains committed to ensuring every Oregonian has access to the tools and resources they need to prepare for emergencies,” OEM Director Erin McMahon, said. “Preparedness Month is a valuable reminder that we are stronger and more resilient when we plan ahead, practice safety, and stay connected within our communities.” 

OEM continues to spotlight its “Be 2 Weeks Ready” campaign, a multilingual multimedia toolkit that helps individuals and communities prepare to be self‑sufficient for at least two weeks following a disaster. This year, the campaign will again be supported through community events, educational outreach, and digital engagement across Oregon.  

Proclamation Highlights 

The governor’s proclamation emphasizes: 

• #OregonPreparednessMonthoffers a vital opportunity for every Oregonian to learn how to prepare for all types of emergencies. 
• Federal, Tribal, state, local, and private sector partners are working together to prevent and respond to disasters. 
• OEM prioritizes outreach and education to ensure all Oregonians understand the importance of emergency preparedness. 
• Communities across Oregon are actively training, educating, and equipping residents for disaster events. 
• Adequate preparation is essential to the health and well-being of every Oregonian. 
• The “Be 2 Weeks Ready” program empowers individuals to take meaningful steps toward resilience. 

2026 Preparedness Events to Help You Get Started 

To cap off Preparedness Month, OEM invites the public to attend the Ready Fair on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Salem. This free, family-friendly event is designed to help our communities build resilience and preparedness. 

The Ready Fair will bring together subject-matter experts and community partners to share practical tips and resources aligned with OEM’s Be 2 Weeks Ready program. 

What to Expect: 

• Expert-Led Boothson emergency alerts, food and water planning, sanitation, and more 
• Interactive Activitiesincluding a fun, earthquake-themed escape room and shake simulator. 
• Preparedness for All Ageswith kid-friendly stations and hands-on learning. 
• Food Trucksand a chance to win a fully stocked emergency go-bag for your family. 

Event Details: 

• Date:Saturday, October 10, 2026 
• Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. 
• Location:3930 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem, Oregon 97302 
• Cost:FREE and open to the public 

In addition to the Ready Fair, OEM is encouraging people to participate in the Great Oregon ShakeOut: October 15, 2026, at 10:16 AM (local time). Join millions of people across Oregon to practice earthquake safety. The ShakeOut is a fast, simple drill to help you learn how to Drop, Cover and Hold On.

And the Great Oregon Camp-In: October 16–18, 2026. Held the weekend after the ShakeOut, the Camp-In is an at-home preparedness exercise where households practice living without utilities, refine emergency plans and test their supplies. Participate for a few hours or the entire weekend.

“Community preparedness is strongest when people feel informed, supported, and empowered,” OEM’s Community Preparedness Coordinator Kayla Thompson, said. “Our goal is to meet Oregonians where they are, provide accessible resources, and encourage everyday steps that build resilience long before an emergency happens.”

For more information on Preparedness Month and the Be 2 Weeks Ready campaign, visit www.oregon.gov/oem.  

 PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILDFIRE UPDATE 

As of September 14, 2026, Oregon is currently managing 7 active, uncontained large fires and complexes out of 14 total active uncontained large fires across the Pacific Northwest. While recent rain has slowed active fire behavior, multiple blazes remain under active monitoring, line reinforcement, or repair operations: Major Active Fire Status & Evacuations

• Austin Fire: Southeast of Estacada in Mt. Hood National Forest, smoldering with ongoing line reinforcement. Level 3 (“Go Now”) orders and Highway 224 closures persist in Clackamas County.
• Hagen Fire: In northeast Oregon, transitioning to mop-up and repair. Level 3 evacuations and Forest Service closures remain near the fire despite lower-level lifts.
• Paradise Fire: East of Milton-Freewater in Umatilla National Forest, undergoing line repair and hazard clearing amid strict forest closures for deep ash pits and snags.
• Sycan Fire: Southwest of Summer Lake, moving through grass and brush with uncontained perimeter growth under active monitoring.
• McCully Fire: In Baker and Grant counties, seeing reduced activity and shifting to rehabilitation while maintaining evacuation levels and forest closures.

Statewide ContextGovernor Tina Kotek’s state of emergency for wildfire threats remains statewide for rapid resource deployment. [1]For real-time updates, check the Northwest Fire Map or the NWCC Blog.

For live evacuation details and spatial boundaries, reference local sheriff departments or monitor real-time tracking through the Central Oregon Fire Information Hub.

Live Mapping and Public Safety – Because conditions shift rapidly, you can track real-time perimeters, containment updates, and Level 1/2/3 evacuation zones using the That Oregon Life Wildfire Map or the Wildfire Explorer Oregon Fires Map. If you are looking for specific regional updates, please consult local sheriff’s departments or emergency alert apps like Watch Duty and Genasys Protect.

Current Safety & Fire Restrictions — Despite the incoming rain, underlying forest conditions remain incredibly dry. Public land users are reminded that fire restrictions remain tightly in place ahead of the Labor Day weekend. Ensure you check the official Central Oregon Fire Restrictions and avoid parking vehicles on dry grass.

🗺️ Critical Resources for Evacuations & Travel — Because fire behavior, road closures, and air quality fluctuate rapidly, residents should utilize official tracking platforms before traveling:

• Evacuation Maps: Check real-time statuses using Oregon’s RAPTOR tracking map or local county sheriff’s pages.
• Road Closures: View live traffic adjustments and highway conditions on TripCheck.
• Smoke Updates: Track local pollution and breathing safety recommendations via the Oregon Smoke Information Blog.

---

Oregon has made significant progress in rebuilding housing lost during the September 2020 Labor Day wildfires. State and federal recovery initiatives have successfully financed the reconstruction of nearly 1,500 homes across the state.

The milestone marks a major step forward from the catastrophic 2020 fire season, which scorched over 1 million acres and caused the evacuation of more than 40,000 residents. Key Recovery Achievements:

• State-Funded Developments Completed: The Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) announced that all state-funded permanent housing recovery projects are fully complete. Backed by a $150 million legislative allocation approved in 2021, these initiatives directly funded the construction of 324 brand new homes across eight specific developments.
• Impacted Communities: Rebuilding milestones have brought hundreds of families back to heavily impacted regions, including urban Jackson County (ravaged by the Almeda Fire), as well as Douglas, Lane, and Linn counties. Significant projects include the rebuilding of the Lazy Days Mobile Home and RV Park in Blue River, Royal Oaks, and the Talent Community Cooperative.
• Comprehensive Household Support: Outside of direct construction, the state’s Wildfire Recovery and Resilience Account (WRRA) successfully helped 867 households achieve permanent rehousing and provided intermediate or temporary housing assistance to an additional 450 households.
• Ongoing Federal Aid: While state-funded developments are wrapped up, long-term federally funded efforts remain in motion. Programs under the state’s ReOregon initiative—fueled by a $422 million Community Development Block Grant from HUD—continue to provide long-term grants for remaining low- and moderate-income homeowners trying to repair or rebuild.

While infrastructure delays and financing gaps historically slowed individual rebuilds in hard-hit rural areas, the deployment of coordinated state and federal recovery packages has safely transitioned thousands of fire survivors from temporary shelters back into permanent housing.

Oregon lawmakers approve more than $120 million to cover cost of 2026 wildfires

The 2026 wildfire season has been the state’s most expensive to date.

Oregon lawmakers approved nearly $123 million to help cover the costs of this year’s wildfire season, sending money to two state agencies responsible for fighting wildfires. 

The Oregon Legislature’s Joint Emergency Board agreed to allocate $108 million to the Oregon Department of Forestry and $15 million to the Department of the State Fire Marshal at a morning meeting Thursday. The 20-member board has the authority to allocate funding when the full Legislature isn’t in session. 

As of late August, wildfires had scorched across 2.5 million acres and cost the state $236.2 million. Those costs are expected to reach $350 million by the end of the wildfire season — putting 2026 on track to surpass the state’s previous $318 million record when wildfires scorched 1.9 million acres in 2024. 

The forestry department has been able to pay for nearly $79 million of those costs with federal recovery funding, grants and other contributions. With the emergency board’s approval Thursday, the agency will also borrow $150 million from the Oregon State Treasury through three loans over the next three months to maintain solvency through the end of the year. 

The State Fire Marshal responded to 12 destructive wildfires this year that cost more than $50 million. The agency’s $15 million request will cover funding gaps needed to address those costs. 

The federal government is expected to reimburse Oregon for some of these costs, though that money can take years to arrive. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency still owes Oregon about $92 million in fire management and public assistance grants from 2020. These are grants a state requests if they are facing a catastrophic emergency, and the federal government agrees to pay 75% of the costs.

Typically they take about two to three years to be fully released to the states. This is not an unusual amount of money owed, nor is it unusual that it’s taking so long to be reimbursed, according to Joy Krawczyk, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Forestry. 

The slow pace of federal reimbursements frustrated lawmakers.

“Through the course of today’s allocations, we’re going to be taking general fund dollars away from our schools, from healthcare, from housing, from public safety, while we’re waiting for reimbursement from the federal government,” said Rep. David Gomberg, D-Otis. 

Lawmakers on the emergency board thanked all the agencies who worked to put out the wildfires this summer. 

“It was predicted to be tough,” said Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane. “We exceeded tough by many levels in that period of time. Without the coordination, the dedication of the state agencies, and I’ll say our Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, Rangeland Fire Protection Associations, rural fire districts and the volunteers that are out there, there’d have been towns and houses taken out.” (SOURCE)

Secretary Read Requests Emergency Funding for Election Security

 Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read proposed concrete steps to provide eligible Oregonians with more ways to return their ballots and make sure their votes get counted.

In testimony before a budget subcommittee of the Oregon Legislature, Secretary Read advocated for a total of $1.25 million in emergency funding to support Oregon’s elections as the federal government continues its attempts to control and undermine election integrity.

“Our goal is simple: every eligible Oregonian should have a clear and dependable way to cast a ballot and be confident that their vote gets counted,” Secretary Read said. “Expanding drop box access and providing a means for voters to track their ballot are some of the tools we have to protect Oregonians’ right to vote. I’m grateful to the Legislature for considering the request for emergency funding on behalf of Oregon voters.”

The funding request has three main components: supporting greater access to official drop boxes, providing an opt-in ballot tracking system for voters, and taking the next step to clear out old data in the inactive voter list.

Recently, the Oregon Secretary of State’s office conducted a comprehensive study to identify gaps in drop box availability around the state. Multiple locations were identified where an additional drop box would give Oregonians better access to submitting their ballots through this secure method.

Emergency funding of $618,000 would pay for 20 drop boxes and expenses related to an increase in drop box usage. Installation requires coordination with local leaders and quick work to get as many drop boxes as possible functional before the election.

Every voter in Oregon should have access to the same tools to protect their vote, and $154,000 would expand BallotTrax statewide. Currently five counties use this opt-in service that provides updates to voters about their ballot: when it is sent, when their county receives it on the way back, and when their signature has been accepted so their ballot can be counted. 

The final $480,000 would allow counties to send voter notification cards to inactive voters to continue the process of clearing out old data on the inactive voter list. Inactive voters do not receive ballots and do not impact the outcome of any election, but proper data management is important.

The funding request advanced with unanimous support and will be considered by the Emergency Board on Thursday.

OHCS Investment Opens 45 New Affordable Homes in Bend as Central Oregon Works to Address Housing Shortage

 — More than 40 new homes are opening in Bend, providing more housing opportunities for people and families as Central Oregon continues to grapple with housing costs that have made it increasingly difficult for many workers to live in the communities they work.

“At a moment when the high cost of housing is making it difficult for people to get by, state investments and local leadership are making life more affordable for renters of today and tomorrow,” said Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) Executive Director Andrea Bell.

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) joined Housing Works, Cascade Management, and community partners on Sept. 9 to celebrate the grand opening of Nine Peaks, a newly constructed affordable housing community in Bend. OHCS invested approximately $10 million in the new development, $1 million of which was Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funding. LIHTC is a federal initiative established to encourage private investment in affordable housing. It provides tax credits to developers who commit to creating affordable housing for low-income households, which can be sold to investors to finance construction.

The opening comes as housing affordability continues to affect communities throughout Central Oregon. High housing costs and limited housing availability can make it harder for employers to recruit and retain workers for communities to maintain the workforce needed to support schools, health care, hospitality, public services, and other essential industries.

“I absolutely love being here. I was struggling with finding housing,” said Lisa Thomas (not her real name), a resident of Nine Peaks. “It’s a struggle to find housing in this area, so I feel fortunate. I was in tears when I was told that I was approved and able to move in. It still doesn’t feel real — being able to start all over and have a new beginning, I just really appreciate it.”

Nine Peaks includes one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, creating options for households of different sizes. The community is located near shopping, medical facilities, and schools. The homes were built in partnership with Housing Works, Central Oregon’s regional housing authority.

“Many Oregonians have to make hard decisions between housing and health care, and the Nine Peaks community was envisioned as a response to that challenge,” said Lynne McConnell, executive director of Housing Works. “Housing Works and Mosaic Medical have an aligned mission and are thrilled to see our years of work on this project come to fruition. Nine Peaks is adjacent to Mosaic’s future headquarters, a clinic, and a pharmacy, and prioritizes households with individuals with disabilities. Nine Peaks will support health and stability for our residents and the larger community.”

For OHCS, the opening also represents the tangible result of public investment in housing. The agency’s approximately $10 million investment helped turn funding into completed homes that will serve Central Oregon residents for years to come.

About Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) — OHCS is Oregon’s housing finance agency. The state agency provides financial and program support to create and preserve opportunities for quality, affordable housing for Oregonians with low and moderate incomes. OHCS administers programs that provide housing stabilization. OHCS delivers these programs primarily through grants, contracts, and loan agreements with local partners and community-based providers. For more information, please visit: oregon.gov/ohcs.

Oregon National Guard, U.S. Navy Break Ground on $12 Million Machine Gun Range in Boardman

The Oregon National Guard and U.S. Navy broke ground Sept. 9 on a new Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG) Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility, marking the start of construction on a project more than two decades in the making.

The $12 million range will become the first and only Army Standard crew-served weapons range in Oregon, allowing soldiers to qualify on the M240, M2, and MK19 in-state rather than traveling to facilities in Yakima, Washington, or Boise, Idaho. “That travel costs time, costs money, and it pulls our soldiers away from being available here at home when the state needs them most,” said Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, The Adjutant General, Oregon. “This range changes that.”

The project traces back to a license agreement signed in August 2004 between the Departments of the Army, Navy, and the Oregon Military Department. Since then, it has appeared repeatedly on the military’s Future Years Development Plan in 2007, 2015, 2025, and 2026, before finally reaching groundbreaking. The effort required a six-and-a-half-year environmental impact statement spanning more than 1,400 pages and coordination across U.S. Pacific Fleet, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, the National Guard Bureau and the Oregon Military Department.

“Twenty-two years ago, someone signed a piece of paper that made a promise, a promise that Oregon soldiers would someday train on their own ground for their own state,” Gronewold said. “Today, we break ground on keeping that promise, and when this range opens, it won’t just serve the soldiers standing here today; it will serve the generations of Oregon’s citizen-soldiers who come after them.”

Gronewold tied the project to the Guard’s leadership framework, telling attendees the range reflects the standard he asks of every member of the organization: to be connected, competent and committed. He noted the facility also positions the Guard for the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon and its 6.8mm round, which soldiers will need to qualify on in coming years.

Cmdr. Joshua Overn, Executive Officer of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Northwest Training Range Complex, delivered remarks on behalf of Capt. Nathan Gammache, the air station’s commanding officer, who was traveling and unable to attend. “Today, we aren’t just turning dirt; we are laying the foundation for the future of our tactical readiness,” Overn said, calling proficiency with crew-served weapons “a cornerstone of ground combat.” He said the range will help ensure that when Oregon forces deploy, “they are fully qualified, confident and lethal in the field.”

Overn said the partnership between the Navy and the Oregon Military Department has helped advocate for and protect military interests across the Northwest while balancing compatible land and air use in the region. He added that a ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected within the coming year as construction wraps up.

Maj. Gen. (ret.) Raymond F. Rees, a former Adjutant General of Oregon, attended the ceremony. Also on hand were Boardman City Manager Brandon Hammond, Morrow and Umatilla County commissioners, local fire and police representatives, and field representatives for Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

On September 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta issued a ruling upholding the Coquille Indian Tribe’s authority to continue its gaming operations at its casino in Medford

The memorandum opinion denied a legal challenge brought by a coalition of local tribes—including the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, the Karuk Tribe, and the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation—and granted summary judgment to the federal government and the Coquille Tribe. Key Details of the Ruling:

• Legal Foundation: The court determined that the Coquille Restoration Act of 1989 permits the federal government to place land into trust within the tribe’s five-county service area (Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, and Lane). Because Medford lies within Jackson County, the judge agreed the 2.4-acre parcel qualifies as “restored lands” under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, making gaming fully permitted.
• A Long-Standing Dispute: The ruling marks a major milestone in a political and legal battle spanning nearly 15 years. The property previously hosted a tribally-owned bowling alley operating state-run video lottery terminals before the U.S. Department of the Interior approved the land-into-trust application in January 2025.
• Future Outlook: Tribal officials stated that revenues from the Medford facility will continue to fund critical programs, services, and community support for tribal citizens. However, because this decision is a final, appealable order, the plaintiff tribes retain the option to seek a review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit

Oregon to launch new Explore Health state health insurance marketplace in coming months

Oregonians who buy their health insurance on a federal website will soon be able to turn to a new state-backed platform to shop for coverage.

In less than 10 weeks, Oregonians who buy their health insurance on a federal website will be able to turn to a new state-backed platform to shop for coverage, determine if they qualify for financial assistance and enroll in a plan. 

Starting Nov. 1, a new ExploreHealthOR.gov website will take the place of the federally-managed platform Healthcare.gov for the state’s private health insurance marketplace, where nearly 120,000 Oregonians currently go to buy health insurance.

The state Legislature in 2023 passed a law requiring the Oregon Health Authority to create its own online exchange by November 2026, and Explore Health earlier this month received federal approval.

Health Authority officials framed the transition in a recent news release as a move that gives the agency “greater flexibility to respond to the needs of Oregon consumers and communities.”

“Explore Health will give Oregon the flexibility to design a Marketplace experience around the needs of our diverse communities and respond to local data, feedback and changes in federal policy,” Chiqui Flowers, director of the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace, said in a statement. 

This isn’t the first time that Oregon has tried to launch a state-based marketplace. Shortly after opening in 2013, the state’s new Cover Oregon online marketplace began a long downward spiral, facing rising costs, software errors, an unusable interface for enrollees and massive backlogs. State officials in 2015 scrapped the effort, but Oregon earned a reputation at the time from some critics for having one of the worst online marketplaces in the nation.  (SOURCE)

The Oregon Heritage Commission has released an update to the statewide Oregon Heritage Plan.

The statewide Oregon Heritage Plan is a call to action for heritage preservation efforts across the state to unite around common goals. The Oregon Heritage Commission invites individuals and organizations to discuss the goals and strategies in this Plan, consider how they align with organization missions and priorities, and join the Commission in this work.

The structure of the plan includes:

• 5 focus areas that guided its development and will serve as a lens for carrying out the goals and strategies:
  • Tribal engagement and relationship building
  • Healthy and thriving communities
  • Collaborations and partnerships
  • Ethical practices and accountability
  • Future thinking
• 4 goals that identify long-term desired outcomes for heritage efforts across the state:
  • Engage More Voices – Engage excluded and marginalized voices to expand the narrative of history told and preserved in Oregon.
  • Increase Access to Heritage – Increase access to heritage resources for the communities you serve.
  • Build Heritage Networks – Work together at all levels to advocate for sustainable funding and to increase awareness of the value of heritage.
  • Develop Healthy Organizations – Apply practices and standards in sustainable, scalable, and ethical ways to increase organizational health.
• Strategies for each goal that lay out a path forward for Oregon Heritage, state agencies and service organizations, and heritage organizations to achieve the goals.

“The Heritage Commission encourages the heritage preservation community, locally, regionally, and statewide, to consider this plan as a tool to help them in their work,” says Heritage Commission Coordinator, Katie Henry. “Each step forward will result in more stories told, more people served, and more sustainable heritage organizations.”

Oregon’s heritage preservation community is any individual, organization, or entity that understands the value of and works towards documenting, preserving, and sharing Oregon’s heritage resources. These resources include places, buildings, structures, archeological sites, archives, collections, traditional beliefs and practices, culturally significant natural resources, and much more.

Those engaged in this work include but are not limited to Tribal, federal, state, and local governments; local landmark commissions; museums; archives; libraries; historical societies; educational institutions; advocacy groups; Oregon Main Street organizations; building, design, finance, and real estate professionals; and any other individuals and organizations engaged in this work.

Oregon Heritage conducted engagement with the public, heritage organizations, and other key parties to inform the Plan from August to November 2025. Engagement activities included a public survey, discussion groups, and a questionnaire for heritage groups. The 2024 Oregon Heritage Vitality Study also provided critical information to help inform the update to the Oregon Heritage Plan.

Access the Oregon Heritage Plan online at oregonheritage.org in English and Spanish. Printed copies can be requested by emailing heritage.info@oprd.oregon.gov or calling 503-877-8834.

About the Oregon Heritage Commission (OHC)
The Heritage Commission’s nine Governor appointed members represent a diversity of cultural, geographic, and institutional interests.

Public invited to comment on plan to possibly triple logging in eastern Oregon national forests

The public has until Sept. 30 to submit comments on the 350-page draft proposal.Submit comments on the revised Blue Mountain Forest Plan here.

The U.S. Forest Service’s proposed revisions to the Blue Mountain Forest Plan would allow more logging and taking older trees in the name of wildfire prevention

Officials at the U.S. Forest Service are proposing new management plans for eastern Oregon’s Blue Mountains that include potentially tripling the amount of logging across 5.5 million acres in the next decade.

The Forest Service published a draft of proposed changes to the 35-year-old Blue Mountain Forest Plan last week. It would allow more logging, mining and grazing across four national forests spread across eastern Oregon, as well as parts of southeast Washington: the Malheur, Ochoco, Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla National Forests.

The draft plan describes increases in logging and animal grazing as important to local economies and to preventing wildfire.

It predicts everything from habitat conservation to forest carbon storage would improve over the long term if more logging is allowed because strategically logging and grazing parts of the forest would prevent wildfire, which officials characterize as the biggest threat to habitat and forest loss.

Environmental advocates disagree with the framing.

The Blue Mountains encompass Oregon’s largest protected wilderness areas. Conservation groups have expressed concern and outrage over the draft management plan, which they say could exacerbate area drought and water quality issues, wildfire risks and impact habitat for elk, wolverine, wolves, moose, owls and salmon.

“This plan seeks to open up and pillage one of the wildest places left in the U.S.,” Lauren Anderson, a climate forests manager at the nonprofit Oregon Wild, said in a statement. “The Trump administration is already taking a hatchet to protections for water, wildlife and the public’s voice. This plan is that philosophy in action, putting at risk the very values that make the Blue Mountains special.”

Bev Law, a forest scientist and professor emerita at Oregon State University who has studied extensively the potential forest carbon storage in Oregon forests, found that protected wilderness areas in the Blue Mountains contain the second highest proportion of above-ground carbon stocks in all of Oregon’s protected wilderness areas.

Nick Smith, a spokesperson for the American Forest Resource Council, a trade association representing the timber industry, said in a statement that the group is still reviewing the proposed updates but that change is overdue.

“These national forests face some of the highest wildfire, insect and disease risks in the West. At the same time, the region is steadily losing the sawmills, logging contractors and the skilled workforce needed to carry out active forest management and provide markets for the material that needs to come out of the woods,” he said.

The draft Blue Mountain Management Plan proposal also includes rescinding a 32-year-old rule called the Eastside Screens that prohibits logging trees that are 21 inches in diameter or larger on six eastern Oregon and Washington national forests. Forest Service officials attempted to rescind the rule during the first Trump administration, but conservation groups sued and it was blocked by a federal judge.

Forest Service officials have argued that some younger trees that grow fast should be able to be removed even if they are more than 21 inches in diameter, because they are crowding out other tree species that take longer to grow but are important to the forest ecosystems.

The proposal also assumes Congress will soon rescind the 25-year-old Roadless Rule, which prohibits road construction, logging and mining on roughly 60 million acres of public land, including about 2 million acres of forests in Oregon. That alone would increase the amount of land classified as open for logging in the Blue Mountains by 17%, according to the draft.

Most of the increased logging would take place in the Malheur National Forest, followed by the Wallowa-Whitman and then Umatilla national forests. (SOURCE)

High Desert Museum · Congratulations to Alexa Hagerty, winner of the 12th annual Waterston Desert Writing Prize!

Alexa, a writer and anthropologist, was recognized for “Salt, Cloud, Ghost: A Journey through Desert, Deep Time, and Digital Age,” a journey through Chile’s Atacama Desert where the extraction of minerals and data for AI meets the region’s long history of colonialism, dictatorship and disappearance.

She’s also the author of “Still Life with Bones: Genocide, Forensics, and What Remains,” a New York Times Editors’ Choice, one of the New Yorker Best Books of the Year, and winner of the 2024 Juan E. Méndez Book Award for Human Rights in Latin America.

Join us at the Museum on September 17 to celebrate Alexa and hear from keynote speaker Joy Harjo, the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate. Tickets are $10, with a 20% discount for members.Get your tickets: https://ow.ly/hG2S50ZB6Xn

Check out Oregon State Parks with your library card

Borrow an Oregon State Parks parking permit for free at 82 libraries statewide.

– Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (ORPD) and the State Library of Oregon are partnering to offer free state parks parking permits to Oregon public libraries. There are currently 200 parking permits available at 82 libraries across the state.

“Oregon’s state parks are for everyone,” said OPRD deputy director JR Collier. “As we assess ways to manage our budget responsibly, we also want to uplift equitable access to our parks.”

Each participating library received up to four parking permits. These are the physical hang tags you check out from the library and put in your car. The permit covers parking in all Oregon State Parks day-use areas for one vehicle. Go to the Oregon State Parks website to find participating libraries. All you need to participate is your library card.

“Libraries help make life more affordable for Oregonians. This program leverages the existing borrowing system to help connects folks of all income levels with the beauty and splendor of Oregon’s State Parks,” said Wendy Cornelisen, State Librarian.

Both OPRD and the State Library contributed 100 parking permits to the program to distribute to libraries. The agencies determined how many passes each library would receive based on interest from the library, its proximity to a park charging a day use fee, and the size of the population it serves. The State Library purchased permits with Library Services and Technology Act funds from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.

OPRD first distributed parking permits to 28 libraries as part of a year-long pilot program starting in August 2024. Those passes were checked out more than 2,100 times. At the pilot’s conclusion, OPRD evaluated how to best move the program forward in the context of its changing fees. In 2027, OPRD and the State Library will continue to explore options for an expanded long-term program that will serve even more libraries and people in Oregon. Learn more about the OPRD Library Pass Program.

Statewide hotline available for Oregonians affected by wildfires and smoke

People anywhere in Oregon who have been affected by wildfires or wildfire-related air quality can call 1-833-699-0554 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The statewide hotline is available to people experiencing any wildfire-related impact, including those who:

• Lost a home or property
• Evacuated and have ongoing needs
• Are sheltering in place and have wildfire-related needs
• Are affected by wildfire smoke or poor air quality
• Have another need or concern caused by a wildfire

“During this difficult wildfire season, Oregonians impacted by fires deserve immediate and reliable access to the help they need,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “That’s why we’ve established a dedicated, 24/7 hotline – so that no Oregonian has to navigate this wildfire season alone or wonder where to turn to for help.”

The hotline is staffed by 211info. If a call is not answered, callers can leave a message and will receive a return call within one business day.

This hotline does not provide emergency evacuation assistance or help people locate immediate shelter. People who are in immediate danger, have a medical emergency, or need emergency help evacuating should call 911. People looking for information about shelters or other immediate resources can call 2-1-1. For current 211info operating hours, visit 211info.org.

People can also enter their contact information and describe their wildfire-related needs using the Oregon Wildfire Assistance web form. An ODHS staff member will review the information and follow up with them.

“This wildfire season is already affecting a growing number of Oregon Tribes and communities,” said Ed Flick, Director, ODHS Office of Resilience and Emergency Management. “Wildfires can affect people in many ways, even when their homes have not burned. We want people to know there is one place they can call to share what they are experiencing and learn what resources may be available.”

In previous years the hotline has been used to connect people who lost homes in disasters with recovery support. This year, the Oregon Department of Human Services is expanding it to people experiencing a broader range of wildfire impacts.

ODHS has informally coordinated individual assistance following Oregon disasters since 2020. This year, Governor Tina Kotek directed ODHS to be ready to formally activate individual assistance when needed as the state prepares to establish a formal program in 2027 under House Bill 4121.

211info and ODHS will work with local communities to connect people with existing programs and local resources. If those resources are not enough to meet the level of need, ODHS will work with state leaders to identify additional support and funding options.

The hotline does not guarantee financial assistance or eligibility for a particular program. Staff will listen to each caller’s experience, document their needs and help identify available resources and next steps.

Hotline information

• Call: 1-833-699-0554
• Available: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Missed calls: Leave a message and your call will be returned within one business day
• Shelter and other immediate resource questions: call 211
• Emergencies or emergency evacuation help: call 911

Staying Informed During a Communications Outage: Best Practices for the Public

Disasters can damage critical infrastructure, leading to temporary outages in cell service, internet, and power. When communication systems go down, it’s vital to be prepared with alternate ways to get emergency information and stay connected. Here’s how you can prepare and respond:

  Have a Battery-Powered or Hand-Crank Emergency Weather Radio

• Why it matters: Emergency radios can receive Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts via AM/FM or NOAA Weather Radio frequencies—even when cell towers and the internet are down.
• Note: Emergency radios do not receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) like cell phones do. Tip: Pre-tune your radio to your local emergency broadcast station (e.g., OPB in Oregon or NOAA frequencies).

Turn On WEA Alerts on Your Phone

• Make sure Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are enabled in your phone’s settings. These alerts include evacuation orders, severe weather warnings, and other urgent notifications.
• WEA messages are sent through cell towers—if cell service is out, WEA alerts will not be delivered. This is why having backup methods like a radio is essential.

Charge Everything in Advance and Have Backup Power

• Charge phones, power banks, laptops, and rechargeable flashlights before fire weather conditions worsen.
• Consider solar-powered chargers or car chargers as backups.
• If you are sheltering in place, a generator (solar or gas powered) is helpful.

Know Your Evacuation Routes in Advance

• Save printed or downloaded evacuation maps in case you can’t access GPS or navigation apps.
• Most mapping services (like Google Maps or Apple Maps) offer the ability to “Make maps available offline.” Download your area in advance so you can navigate even if cell towers or internet access are down.
• When in doubt, call 511 or visit the TripCheck.com website if you have cell service.
• Don’t wait for a notification—if you feel unsafe, evacuate early.

Print or Write Down Critical Contacts and Info

• Phone numbers of family, neighbors, and local emergency contacts.
• Address of evacuation shelters, veterinary services (for pets/livestock), and medical facilities.
• Your own emergency plan, including meeting locations.
• Have copies of vital documents in your go-bag and take video of your property (inside and out) for insurance claims later.

If Calling 9-1-1 Over Wi-Fi or Satellite, Check Your Location Settings

If you call 9-1-1 using Wi-Fi calling or a satellite-connected phone (like an iPhone or Android), your location might not be automatically visible to dispatch. Instead, it may rely on the emergency address saved in your phone’s settings.

• Update this emergency address when you travel or relocate—especially in evacuation zones or rural areas.
• Most importantly, always tell the dispatcher exactly where you are—include your address, landmarks, road names, or mile markers to help first responders reach you quickly.

Sign Up for Alerts Before There’s an Outage

• Register for OR-Alert and your county’s local alert system.
• Follow your local emergency management officials’ and bookmark resources like: wildfire.oregon.gov.

 Prepare for Alert Delays or Gaps

• Know the three levels of evacuation:
  • Level 1 – Be Ready
  • Level 2 – Be Set
  • Level 3 – GO NOW
• If you hear a siren, see a neighbor evacuating, or witness fire behavior increasing—take action even if you haven’t received an alert.

 Be Your Own Info Network

• Check on neighbors, especially seniors or those with disabilities.
• Post printed signs with updates for those passing by.

In rural areas, community bulletin boards or fire stations may serve as local information points.

Support and Restoration in Progress
To help maintain emergency communications during this incident, OEM deployed eight Starlink terminals under the guidance of ESF 2 and the Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC). A Communications Technician (Jeff Perkins) was also deployed to assess connectivity needs on the ground. These Starlink terminals have been providing service to the Lake County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Oregon State Police (OSP), Warner Creek Correctional Facility, and will soon support the town of Lakeview, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Lakeview Ranger Station. OEM’s Regional Coordinator (Stacey) is also on-site supporting the Lake County EOC. Coordination has been strong across local, state, and private sector partners. *** Update: As of 7/10/25 at 1:47 PM, fiber service has been restored.

Reconnect When Service Returns

• Once communications are restored, check official websites:
  • Oregon.gov/oem
  • Your county emergency management page
  • TripCheck.com for road conditions
• Share verified info—not rumors—on social media or community pages.

 Prepare for Delays in Restoration

• Communication may come back in phases. Damage to fiber lines or cell towers can take time to repair.
• Continue using backup methods and stay alert for updates via radio or in-person notices.

 Final Tip:

In an emergency, CALL 9-1-1 to report life-threatening danger, not for general information. Use local non-emergency numbers or go to physical information points if needed. You can find more tips for preparing in OEM’s Be2Weeks Ready toolkit.

Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs – No veteran should be without a place to call home, and the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is committed to ending veteran homelessness in our state.

The new ODVA Houseless Veterans Program collaborates with federal, state, county, and Tribal agencies, veteran services offices, and community homeless service providers to meet the urgent and unique needs of Oregon’s diverse veteran communities challenged with housing stability.

In addition to advocating for Oregon veterans experiencing or at risk for houselessness, the program provides direct service to veterans and their families seeking federal and state veterans’ benefits, including access to local VA health care, documentation of service, as well as other available state benefits, and local homeless services organizations and low-income assistance programs.

If you or a veteran you know is dealing with homelessness, contact the ODVA Houseless Veterans Coordinator today at houselessvets@odva.oregon.gov or visit https://ow.ly/V4EH50VnL93 to learn more.

Contact us: Info@OregonBeachMagazine.com

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