Community

Well & Septic News and Resources

ByTom Atkinson November 19, 2021November 19, 2021

Well water testing vouchers available again If you sustained losses or damage due to the 2020 wildfires, you may be eligible for free or subsidized private well testing. Oregon Health Authority will provide vouchers for private or “domestic” water testing to fire-impacted well owners. Vouchers will cover testing for Arsenic, Nitrate, Bacteria, Lead and, depending on damage…

Feds Budget $422M to Help Oregon Address ‘long-term unmet recovery needs’ from 2020 Fires

ByTom Atkinson November 10, 2021November 10, 2021

Source: KPIC.com SALEM, Ore. – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the allocation of over than $422 million to Oregon in supplemental disaster assistance for housing recovery. The allocation for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery and Mitigation – a first for Oregon – is intended to “address long-term unmet recovery needs…

The McKenzie CDC Wants Your Feedback – Website Survey

ByTom Atkinson November 4, 2021November 4, 2021

As we approach the end of another turbulent year and our communities move into recovery and rebuilding mode the McKenzie CDC is taking stock of our efforts going forwards and evaluating how we can best help and support the McKenzie valley in 2022. With Covid-19 still limiting in-person gatherings and the type of on-the-ground, face-to-face…

Camp Creek Watershed Cleanup

ByTom Atkinson October 25, 2021October 25, 2021

Join us in cleaning up the beautiful Camp Creek Watershed, tributary of the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers. SOLVE and the Bureau of Land Management are teaming up to remove illegally dumped and littered trash from this hidden spot off of the McKenzie River Highway. Help us to cleanup this forest in your own backyard, or…

McKenzie School District Needs Your Feedback on Internet Access

ByTom Atkinson October 15, 2021October 25, 2021

McKenzie School District recently won a Project OVERCOME grant that aims to rebuild and improve internet services in the region. As part of the grant, researchers are looking to understand the positive benefits that better Internet services can have. McKenzie residents are being asked to take a short online survey to help McKenzie School District understand your interest in internet…

Community | Holiday Farm Fire | Kids | Local Support

The Hardest Lesson I’ve Learned – Cristian A. Collazo

ByTom Atkinson October 13, 2021October 13, 2021

Last month Janicé Myers of Iron Forest posted on Facebook a heartfelt essay on the wildfire written by her son Cristian. I have posted her Facebook message below followed by his essay as it is full of meaning for all of us who lived through the disaster. Click Janicé’s Facebook post below to visit her…

Community | FEMA | Holiday Farm Fire | Housing

Wildfire Survivors Living in FEMA Housing Unit Will Have Chance to Purchase

ByTom Atkinson October 12, 2021October 12, 2021

Source: McKenzieRebuilds.org At the request of the state, FEMA activated the Sales and Donations Program providing 2020 wildfire survivors the opportunity to purchase their currently occupied Transportable Temporary Housing Units (TTHU) at adjusted fair market value. Participation in this program is voluntary and an occupant’s decision not to participate does not impact their eligibility in…

New Online Recovery Tracking Tools

ByTom Atkinson October 11, 2021October 11, 2021

New recovery tracking tools have been added at www.McKenzieRebuilds.org/recovery. You can see the number of building permits under review and issued, as well as average review time compared to 2020. The linked map view shows the same information parcel by parcel and also tracks how many properties in the fire perimeter have sold since last…

Oregon State University Wildfire Survey

ByTom Atkinson September 28, 2021September 28, 2021

The purpose of this survey from Oregon State University is to examine the individual and family responses to the 2020 wildfires and smoke hazards in Oregon. In particular, the University hopes to better understand how Oregonians received or communicated information about the fires and smoke hazards. The results of the survey will be used to make…

InciWeb: Another Great Wildfire Tracking Service

ByTom Atkinson September 26, 2021September 24, 2021

InciWeb is an interagency all-risk incident information management system. The system was developed with two primary missions: Provide the public a single source of incident related information Provide a standardized reporting tool for the Public Affairs community *In the event of an emergency in your vicinity, contact your local emergency agency.