Month: November 2013

Seeing the Plan Through With 3 Important Questions

Posted on by Julia Havens

Nick Meltzer P.E. Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience OPDR University of OregonAs an a civil engineer, I was lucky enough to see many of the projects I worked on come into fruition, as construction was generally a year or two after design. In planning, we often don’t get the opportunity, as many plans we write are long term and implemented over the course of 10, 20 or 40 years. Last week, I had the opportunity to present the Coos County Emergency Management Strategic Plan to the Coos County Commissioners in Coquille, Oregon. Having been involved with the Douglas and Coos County Strategic Emergency Management Plans project since the beginning, it was especially exciting for me to see it through to completion and receive feedback from the elected officials that have ultimate authority over the plan.

I first began work on the project in January of 2013, as part of my Community Planning Workshop (CPW) project. Looking to expand my knowledge of emergency management, the project worked with both Douglas and Coos County Emergency Management Departments. In the age of reduced funding across all levels of government, emergency management departments are constantly being asked to do more, with less. Using steering committees, stakeholder interviews, and targeted surveys, we asked three important questions:

1) How is the organization performing today?
2) What are their strengths and weaknesses?
3) What priorities should be set for the next five years?

These three questions helped us prepare a strategic plan, which is a process used to set priorities and define a path to achieve them, for each county. While popular in the business sector, they are starting to become more prevalent in the public sector. The project also included the development of a regional plan, which outlined how the two emergency management departments can work together towards common goals.  This was the first time a regional plan had been prepared for county level emergency management in Oregon, so a lessons learned document was also prepared for other counties across the state to use. In the end, Douglas and Coos County have a roadmap for the next five years on where to focus their time and energy, in addition to collaborative opportunities that further both of their goals.

After experiencing the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene during my time at the Vermont Agency of Transportation, I became especially aware of the role emergency management plays in mitigating, preparing, responding and recovering from disasters of all kinds. As a planner with a background in civil engineering, the interdependencies within the emergency management field are countless. Community Planning Workshop (a program of the Community Service Center, University of Oregon) gave me a unique chance to combine both sets of skills to help small communities in Oregon and address a facet of both professions: serving the public for the greater good. 

Nick Meltzer P.E. Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience OPDRAbout the Author:  Nicholas S. Meltzer, P.E., is a project coordinator for Community Planning Workshop (CPW) and in his second year of obtaining a Masters in Community and Regional Planning. A reformed engineer, Nick spent 26 years in New England before embarking on a professional and personal journey to Oregon. In addition to balancing class and project managing, he makes sure to enjoy the plethora of mountain biking trails and micro-brews available across the state.

“What in the world is a DRT?”

Posted on by Julia Havens

Joshua Bruce Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience OPDR Interim Director
Josh Bruce, OPDR Interim Director, tears out the gate with a loaded emergency vehicle at Eugene’s first Disaster Relief Trials.
Photo Credit: Ethan Jewett

Eugene kicked off its inaugural Disaster Relief Trials (DRT) on October 12th, with 40 participants and over a dozen sponsors. One of those sponsors was our very own Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience (OPDR). But you’re probably asking yourself, “What in the world is a DRT?” You’re not alone.

Disaster Relief Trials were spawned in Portland, Oregon in 2012. They combine the excitement and competition of a bicycle race, with the utility of cargo bicycles. The purpose of the race is to show how bicycles can be used in post-disaster response. Riders complete a series of tasks at various checkpoints while carrying essential cargo for first responders.

Riders for Eugene’s DRT event had to ride 20 miles with 20 pounds of food, 5 gallons of water, 5 gallons of dirt, and 2 eggs (to symbolize precious medical supplies for those in need). One of the stops included a bicycle-powered generator and satellite internet connection to assist riders in sending messages to the “outside world” after the Cascadian earthquake leveled communication networks.

While riders ranged in age, their bikes were probably the most diverse thing about the event. With riders allowed to use whatever pedal-powered machine to participate in the event, spectators were exposed to some creative rigs, including Long Hauls from Human Powered Machines built right here in Eugene (the winning bicycle as well).

Josh Bruce, Director of OPDR raced in the event on his Surly Big Dummy. While the event attracted lots of cargo bicycle enthusiasts from the area, like Josh, it also garnered some support from Portland’s DRT racers, including Cory Poole who finished the event on a skateboard with a custom trailer attached.

It was a unique event, something that you would only expect in the funky Northwest. If you want to learn more about this event, visit the facebook webpage or read the about it in Eugene Weekly’s recent article, Climate is the Disaster.

James Allexander Alex Page Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience OPDR University of Oregon About the Author: Alex Page is a graduate student in Community and Regional Planning at the University of Oregon. He’s researching how communities can incorporate bicycles into local disaster response.