Tag: Eugene-Springfield Climate

“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. 

Eugene-Springfield Climate, Energy and Natural Hazards Vulnerability Assessment

Posted on by Admin

 

More at http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?nid=511

In 2010 Eugene finalized a Community Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) that makes recommendations to reduce fossil fuel use and adapt to climate change.  While the plan contains recommendations to adapt to climate change and rising fuel prices, the planning process did not have resources to adequately understand the adaptive capacity of community systems and services and prioritize adaptation actions.  The process outlined below would continue where the Climate and Energy Plan left off – by carefully assessing the community vulnerability to these pressures.

Like communities around the world, the Eugene-Springfield metro area in the upper Willamette river basin has a unique set of vulnerabilities both to natural hazards and economic stresses.  Local businesses, residents, and governments have tools to lessen the risk and respond to these vulnerabilities including building codes, emergency management plans, natural hazard mitigation plans, as well as municipal budget forecasting and savings and investments, among others.

Projected regional changes in climate due to global climate change and rising fuel prices brought about by a peak in global petroleum production will heavily influence the community’s vulnerabilities to natural hazards and economic stressors. For example hotter, drier summers are likely to increase the risk of wildfire within the wildland urban interface and within the region, increasing the likelihood of fire damage and poor air quality due to smoke.

The purpose of the vulnerability assessment is to use a comprehensive approach to determine the local systems and services most vulnerable to changes in climate, increasing energy prices and natural hazards.  This information will be used to aid in prioritizing funding to increase local resilience and adaptive capacity.

This project starts with a pilot project that will develop and test a methodology in one or two of the systems/service areas. CSC staff will work with City of Eugene staff to identify the systems/service areas that will be analyzed in the pilot as well as the specific elements of the methodology. Initially, this project will focus on drinking water and storm water. Other systems or services will be added as the budget allows. More about Partnership for Disaster Resilience (OPDR)…