DHS resilience office describes warming/cooling centers, resilience hubs and gaps in authorities for emergency deliveries

Ed Flick, director of the Office of Resilience and Emergency Management at the Oregon Department of Human Services, told the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans on Jan. 23 that his office is focused on mass care, evacuation support and building a network of resilience hubs across the state.

Flick said the office carries responsibilities assigned by OEM under the state emergency management plan — specifically mass care (ESF‑6) and state recovery social services — and supports continuity of operations for the Department of Human Services. He described four core work areas: preparedness, response, recovery and continuity.

The nut graf: Flick emphasized that DHS’s role is often to keep vulnerable Oregonians safe in place where possible, through delivery of resources such as air‑filtration units, air conditioners and water, and by supporting…