Why does advice on how much water to store change?
Different organizations and people have given different advice. Currently Oregon Emergency Management suggests being “two weeks ready” – storing water to last two weeks. It’s a lot to ask for many people, but we do support that high bar for people that can do it. This allows government agencies and nonprofits to focus on supporting those who cannot store that much. It also allows those who can stockpile a lot of water to be able to help their neighbors. We know for past disasters that community members are the first responders in helping others and that community connections are critical factors in surviving and recovering from disasters.
How could a parent with small children and a home that is uninhabitable due to an emergency travel with enough water for two weeks?
Very few would be able to do that. Emergency managers and the lead agency for mass care, the Oregon Department of Human Services, expect many people to get stuck or displaced after major disaster, and arrive at shelters or other locations needing a lot of assistance. We have seen them build, practice and test stockpiles and processes for mass care and feeding for displaced populations. We know there will be gaps, so a key part of our planning is to evaluate scenarios with the community, regularly review gaps, and plan how we will, immediately after a disaster, gain awareness of what the dynamic needs are and get the limited resources to the right places.
Why are community members not getting a response from city officials?
In general, one avenue is to contact your county emergency management office, who may be able to answer questions or connect with the city emergency managers.
We know that relationships are key in disaster preparedness and during a disaster. Relationships with neighbors, state agencies, and federal partners all allow us to leverage each other’s strengths.
If you have questions about health topics in Oregon, submit your question here. Although we are unable to answer every question, we try to address those of interest to a broad audience. Please understand that we are unable to provide specific medical advice for personal medical conditions.