Free webinars to help rural Oregon communities prepare for disasters

The two-part virtual education series aims to strengthen resilience in rural areas.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 3:53pm

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A vast, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray and blue, with a distant farmhouse or barn barely visible through the heavy fog, conveying the overwhelming scale and power of the natural world.A serene yet foreboding landscape painting captures the scale and power of nature in rural Oregon, underscoring the importance of disaster preparedness for isolated communities.Salem Today

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is hosting a free webinar series called 'Rural Communities Prepared for Disasters' to help rural Oregon communities strengthen their preparedness and resilience for potential natural disasters. The two-part virtual education series, scheduled for April 22 and May 13, will cover topics like disaster communications, evacuation planning, backup power, disaster recovery funding, and the role of long-term recovery groups.

Why it matters

Many rural communities in Oregon face unique challenges when it comes to disaster preparedness and recovery, such as limited communications infrastructure and access to resources. This webinar series aims to provide practical guidance and connections to help these communities be better prepared for emergencies like ice storms, floods, wildfires, and extreme heat.

The details

The webinar series is a collaboration between OEM and several partner organizations, including Oregon State University Extension Service, Oregon Sea Grant, Upstream Access, Woodburn Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and the Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities (O4AD). The sessions will cover topics such as how to stay informed when communications systems are interrupted, when and how to evacuate, backup power options, disaster recovery funding, and the role of long-term recovery groups.

  • The first session is scheduled for April 22, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • The second session is scheduled for May 13, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The players

Kayla Thompson

Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Community Preparedness Coordinator.

Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM)

The state agency hosting the 'Rural Communities Prepared for Disasters' webinar series.

Oregon State University Extension Service

A partner organization collaborating on the webinar series.

Oregon Sea Grant

A partner organization collaborating on the webinar series.

Upstream Access

A partner organization collaborating on the webinar series.

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What they’re saying

“This series is designed to help rural communities strengthen their resilience by understanding risks, planning ahead, and knowing what resources are available during recovery.”

— Kayla Thompson, Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) Community Preparedness Coordinator

What’s next

Registration for the 'Rural Communities Prepared for Disasters' webinar series is available online. The sessions will be offered in English with interpretation available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Chinese, Ukrainian, and American Sign Language (ASL). Recordings of both sessions will also be posted on OEM's YouTube Channel.

The takeaway

This webinar series demonstrates the Oregon Department of Emergency Management's commitment to supporting disaster preparedness and resilience in the state's rural communities, which often face unique challenges when it comes to emergency planning and recovery. By providing practical guidance and connecting rural residents with key resources, OEM aims to empower these communities to be better prepared for natural disasters.