COLUMN: Preparing for emergencies helps our community recover

Salem Reporter publishes a regular column from Mark Wardell, West Salem team leader for Salem’s Community Emergency Response Team, focusing on emergency preparedness and planning.

What is 2 Weeks Ready? – Unit 8


In the landscape of disaster preparedness, individual and household readiness are fundamental, yet they exist within a broader framework of organized response. This is where the Oregon Emergency Management’s “Be 2 Weeks Ready” program’s Unit 8, focusing on Emergency Management, becomes essential. It bridges the gap between personal preparedness and the larger systems designed to protect communities.

Unit 8 delves into the intricate web of emergency management agencies and their roles, emphasizing that understanding this system is crucial for effective preparedness. It highlights the collaborative efforts of local, state, and federal entities, such as OEM and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in responding to disasters.

A key aspect of this unit is understanding the role of local emergency managers. These individuals are at the forefront of community preparedness, coordinating resources and ensuring vital information is being shared. The program encourages individuals to connect with their local emergency management agencies, fostering a sense of community resilience.

Furthermore, Unit 8 stresses the importance of staying informed through official channels. It emphasizes the value of signing up for emergency alerts and notifications, ensuring access to timely and accurate information during a crisis. This could include alerts related to evacuation orders, severe weather warnings, or other critical updates.

The unit also addresses the concept of community preparedness, encouraging individuals to participate in local initiatives and volunteer opportunities. This might involve joining a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or participating in neighborhood preparedness programs. By contributing to community-wide efforts, individuals can enhance the overall resilience of their neighborhoods.

CERT is where I spend most of my time, and I cannot encourage you enough to consider joining your local CERT group, or at least connecting with them and attending a meeting or three. CERT is organized in Salem, but also in Marion and Polk County.

You may learn more about Salem CERT at SalemOregonCERT.org, Marion County CERT may be found on the county website here, and lastly Polk County CERT is found PolkCountyCert.org. If you have any questions about CERT you may also reach out to me directly, my contact information is at the bottom of this article.

In essence, Unit 8 shifts the focus from individual survival to collective action. It underscores that effective emergency management relies on a coordinated response, with individuals playing a vital role in supporting these efforts. By understanding the roles of various agencies and engaging in community preparedness initiatives, individuals can contribute to a more resilient society.

The unit also helps people to understand that after a large disaster, governmental help will be delayed in helping everyone in need not just by a few days, but perhaps weeks and in some cases months. The better we are prepared as individuals and as a community, the faster we will collectively begin to recover.

Week by Week to become 2 Weeks Ready


Following these steps will help you build a two-week emergency preparedness plan over a one-year period. While two weeks is a good baseline, remember that preparedness is an ongoing process. Once you’ve achieved a two-week preparedness level, consider building upon it by adding supplies for another two weeks.

Week 30 – Start gathering tools for preparedness kit! This week you’ll want to pack a pair of pliers and/or vice grips. The more the merrier; having a back-up is always best. More tools are coming in the next few months.

Week 31 – Box of crackers – graham crackers or crackers of your choice, you get the idea.

Week 32 – Garbage bags. Heavy duty, bags for the porta-potty you built; you’ll want all sizes. Keep human waste and other waste separate.

Week 33 – Knives – camping knives, utility knives, kitchen knives! Knives can be used for many things. Pack them safely!

These steps are based on recommendations previously shared by Marion County. This is a suggested year-long plan to spread out the cost of acquiring supplies. Feel free to adjust the pace to fit your needs and budget.

Coming up next month

Next month will be a surprise. We’ve finished reviewing each of the units in the OEM 2 Weeks Ready program so next month we will begin focusing on different aspects of emergency preparedness. Maybe I’ll write more about the CERT program, or maybe we’ll take a closer look at making on home emergency plans. The possibilities are maybe not endless, but many.

Emergency Alerts

Earlier in this article I spoke about the need to be connected to local emergency alerts. Listed here are several alert options. While it might be tempting to sign up for one and call it good, signing up for multiple options increases the chance you’ll receive an alert even if one system has gone down.

Marion Polk Alerts
This is a critical system for residents in the region. It’s a combined effort by the city of Salem, Marion and Polk counties, the National Weather Service, and the State of Oregon. It allows you to receive time-sensitive emergency notifications for various situations, including evacuations, flooding, hazardous materials releases, and police activity. You may also customize how you receive alerts, such as via phone call, email, or text message. To get more information and to sign up, you can visit the City of Salem’s website at CityOfSalem.net.


OR-Alert

This is a statewide effort to ensure access to emergency alerts across Oregon. This website act as a portal to direct you to your local emergency alert systems. It also utilizes FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), which can send alerts to all cell phones in a specific area. To find your local sign up from the state level, visit the OR-Alert website.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
These are short emergency messages from authorized federal, state, local, and tribal public alerting authorities that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA‐enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. WEAs can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm’s way, without the need to download an app or subscribe to a service, you’ll just get the message!

Local media

Staying tuned to local television and radio stations is also crucial during emergencies. They provide up-to-date information and announcements. Having an inexpensive battery powered radio is a must for any preparation kit.

If you have any questions about this article, preparedness in general, or if you’d like to inquire about joining CERT or scheduling a CERT presentation for your organization, please don’t hesitate to contact me, Mark Wardell, at [email protected].

STORY TIP OR IDEA? Send an email to Salem Reporter’s news team: [email protected].

A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE.