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Everyday Preparedness - Insurance

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  Everyday Preparedness Series: Homeowners Insurance How many of us look forward to using our homeowners coverage? Yikes. Nobody. It means something bad happened and it will take time and resources to recover. Yet, we carry insurance anyway as a way to trade a small, predictable cost today for protection against a massive, unpredictable catastrophe tomorrow. Insurance isn't about hoping for the worst; it's about planning so that the worst can't wipe out everything you've worked hard to build. It buys peace of mind, allowing you to live your life without the constant fear of a single accident disrupting your financial future. I recently discovered our home was under insured for replacement cost. Not by a lot, but enough to make a meaningful difference. It's an "out of sight, out of mind" part of life. Who really wants to think about it when there are so many higher priorities in our lives. Until there isn't. Hence the focus on everyday preparedness and ...

2026 National CERT Association Annual Conference

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  National CERT Association Annual Conference: Ever considered getting more involved in CERT? Here's an opportunity. "Join us in celebrating the 40th anniversary of CERT at the 2026 National CERT Conference. The conference will take place in Irvine, California from August 24 - 29, 2026. This year's theme, "Stronger Communities Start Here" plays homage to CERT's roots and the foundation of resiliency that CERT plays in its communities across the country. Join us for three full days of pre-conference training and two and a half days of continued learning and breakout sessions. Schedule: Pre-Conference: August 24 - 26, 2026 Main-Conference: August 27 - 29, 2026 Conference Agenda This year, the conference is composed of seven (7) different tracks. These tracks are designed to help attendees decide what breakout sessions may apply best to meet their needs. Attendees do not need to choose a track; they can still choose to attend breakout sessions that are of intere...

Next Generation 9-1-1

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What Next Generation 9-1-1 Means for Oregonians: From article HERE : When someone calls 9-1-1 during an emergency, every second matters. Oregon’s transition to Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) is focused on helping ensure emergency calls are delivered more accurately, reliably, and efficiently to the right Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) — the 9-1-1 center responsible for dispatching emergency responders. For the public, the way they dial 9-1-1 will not change. People will still call 9-1-1 the same way they do today. What is changing is the technology working behind the scenes to help connect callers to the right emergency dispatch center faster and more accurately. One of the biggest advancements with NG9-1-1 is the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) data to help route emergency calls based on precise geographic location. Prior to NG9-1-1, emergency call routing systems were not designed to geospatially route calls using detailed mapping data. Instead, calls were often ro...

The Cascadia Megaquake Is Inevitable. And It Will Reshape America Forever:

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Thank you Laura for bringing this new CSZ video from PBS to our attention. It is in-depth, informative, not alarmist (mostly), contains a segment on CERT (Portland NET), and a must watch for those of us living in coastal Oregon. Spoiler alert - "drop, cover and hold" is situational and may not be your best move. I'm looking at you unreinforced masonry buildings! The video is HERE on YouTube and the introduction for the video says: "The Cascadia Subduction Zone represents a profound disaster in the making. Running hundreds of miles along the Pacific Northwest coast, it's overdue for a catastrophic magnitude 9 earthquake. In fact, scientists estimate there's a 37% chance it will strike in the near future. In this special compilation video, we bring together everything you need to know about the Cascadia megaquake: the science behind it, the incredible historical detective work that pinpointed the last one to a specific hour 321 years ago, and the survival strat...

North Lincoln Fire & Rescue 2026 Bond Measure

On May 19th, 2026, Lincoln County voters cast their ballot.  Please vote in favor of the NLFR levy renewal. The renwewal maintains the current level of $1.22 and 24/7 staffing at both the Bob Everest and St. Clair Fire Stations.   EXPLANATORY STATEMENT FOR COUNTY VOTERS’ PAMPHLET Ballot Title Caption: North Lincoln Fire & Rescue District Local Option Levy Measure Measure Number: 21-236 Word Total:                              (Maximum 500 words) North Lincoln Fire & Rescue is asking District voters to renew the five-year local option levy to: (1) fund the current career firefighting staff of 21, (2) continue District Volunteer programs, (3) purchase and maintain firefighter protective equipment and (4) fund general operations of the District.  We are asking the voters to continue to pay the current levy tax rate es...

2026-0401 Meeting - Home Maintenance and Repair Panel Discussion

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Home Maintenance and Repair Discussion Featuring Jeff Dukes: BTW - if you want to get ahold of Jeff, his contact information is: 541-418-1162 (cell) and  diverjeff541@gmail.com . Common Home Maintenance Issues: Deferred Maintenance: Jeff noted that the most common issue they encounter in the Newport and Lincoln City area is deferred maintenance, which ultimately costs much more down the road. This includes failing paint jobs, which typically only last three to five years in the area, and issues resulting from poor quality work, such as improper caulking around doors leading to water infiltration and sub floor rot. Issues Faced by Widows and Importance of Early Leak Detection: Jeff highlighted the challenges faced by clients who are widows and lack knowledge of exterior maintenance, leading to issues like overflowing gutters that cause roof rot. They described a case of hidden water damage under a dishwasher, which prompted a discussion on the value of early detection. Recommendatio...

Highway 229 Detour Options

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  March 17, 2026 For more information, contact  Mindy McCartt , 503-507-6045. LINCOLN COUNTY – OR 229 remains closed between milepost 14 and 15, from Kernville to Siletz, following a large landslide that destroyed a section of the highway on Dec. 12, 2025. We have launched a  new OR 229 Landslide webpage  to provide the community and travelers with the latest information about the landslide, ongoing monitoring and next steps for rebuilding the highway. The page includes background on the slide, monitoring efforts, detour information and an overview of what it will take to rebuild the highway. Crews have now installed detour signs along the designated alternate route to help guide travelers around the closure. There is currently no local detour available between Kernville and Siletz, and travelers should expect longer travel times when using alternate routes. Water continues to be one of the biggest challenges at the site and is a key factor affecting progress. Satura...