Oak Lodge CERT

06/24/2026

This is good news for Oregon. Energy diversification is key to managing our energy needs of the future. All energy sources come with downsides, but the costs of continuing to use fossil fuels like coal and oil keep rising— both financially and ecologically. Renewables must be in the mix.

Several states — including Washington and Oregon — won a lawsuit challenging an order from President Trump to freeze permits for wind energy projects.

06/23/2026

Visit our Booth at the
Oak Grove Festival This Saturday, June 27

During a disaster, do you know how much water you need to survive? Do you know the 3 ways to purify water to make it drinkable? If not, we can show you!

Who: Oak Lodge Community Emergency Response Team (OLCERT)
When: Saturday, June 27, 11am to 4pm
Where: Intersection of Oak Grove Blvd and Rupert Ave in front of the church

We’ll have hands-on displays, fun games, and valuable information on disaster preparedness, specifically water preparedness:
Water Storage - You can only survive 3 days without water! 💧
Water Purification - You need to kill off any bugs in there! 🪳
Two-bucket Toilet System- Where do the p*e & poo go? 💩
Stop by our booth, spin the wheel and win a prize. Great fun for the kids!
Rain ponchos
Head lamps
First aid kits
Water filters
Plus many others
As usual, we’ll be raffling off LifeStraws! This amazing device is the ultimate survival tool. It allows you to safely drink from most any water source by filtering out bacteria, parasites, microplastics and dirt. An essential tool for disaster preparedness. Come by and enter your name in our drawing.

We look forward to seeing you there!

06/20/2026

On this first day of summer, a look at the modeling that predicts a strong summer El Niño system for 2026. The most important paragraph for us here is Oregon:

"There is one other potential item of note regarding this summer in the West, and that is the elevated potential for significant Pacific Northwest heatwaves. ... the odds of amplified or “blocking” high pressure systems in the Pacific Northwest is considerably higher during El Niño summers and autumns. That means that the odds of major heatwaves and fire weather events may be especially high in this region later this summer, and this could spell wildfire-related trouble given widespread drought (especially in Oregon). There is less of a precipitation signal in this region during summer versus the clearer wet signal in the interior West, but the potential for high heat plus significant and widespread antecedent drought offers a potentially consequential signal here."

June 11, 2026 - Daniel Swain - A quick refresher: What is El Niño and how can it affect global weather patterns? El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a semi-regular recurring cycle that transfers vast amounts of heat and momentum from the tropical Pacific to the g...

06/19/2026

This is great news for Oregon’s coastal communities— and the rest of us. Today, the Senate voted UNANIMOUSLY to block the Trump’s Administration's plan to remove ocean-monitoring equipment in the Pacific Northwest. The underwater instruments track coastal flooding, ocean currents, marine heat waves, and other climate conditions. It’s great to see this bipartisan support for science that helps us better prepare for weather events.

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) took to the Senate floor to successfully pass their bipartisan legislation that pauses the reckless dismantling of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a complex system ...

06/17/2026

State experts are dismayed that rates of vaccination among Oregon schoolchildren are declining, portending a loss of herd immunity that helps protects us all. If you need a credible source of information about vaccination recommendations based on science and data, this article may meet your needs:

These graphics will guide you through science-based vaccine guidelines for children and adults

06/13/2026

Reports of ticks in the Willamette Valley are on the rise. If you’ve been exposed, it’s important to remove adhering ticks quickly and properly. Failure to do so can increase your risk of disease as, if squeezed or stressed, the tick may regurgitate its last meals back into your bloodstream. Current recommendations also include saving the removed tick for at least 30 days, so that it can be tested if you develop any symptoms of Lyme disease or other complications. You can simply tape the tick to a card for safekeeping.

06/12/2026

Some folks choose to let their lawn go dormant during the summer months when water is at a premium. This can encourage other plants to emerge amidst the grass, great for pollinators who prefer biodiversity but perhaps not appealing to those who like a manicured grass-scape. Still, there are ways to water that can reduce your water needs while giving your plants every drop they need.

Whether you water your outdoor plants manually or have a irrigation system, there's always room for water conservation. Here are some tips to save water in your yard.

06/10/2026

Knowing your neighbors adds a layer of resilience, security, and satisfaction. And what better time to meet your neighbors than in the summer months! Whether you’re long-established or new to the area, consider hosting a gathering to bring everyone together for connections and interactions. It doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated!

This blog post is about 7 fun neighborhood summer event ideas that can help foster positive neighborhood connections and lasting memories

06/06/2026

Is the Administration dismantling FEMA? And if so, how will states manage disaster preparedness, mitigation and response? At the moment, there are more questions than answers.

Council’s plan will leave Federal Emergency Management Agency ill-equipped to respond to extreme weather events, experts say

06/05/2026

This is an interesting explanation of how inflation rates are calculated, and why our actual experiences may feel very different than the official numbers would lead us to believe.

Despite reassuring economic data, many Americans say their day-to-day costs are still rising.