Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Preparedness topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council agrees to back nearby Elks Lodge FEMA hazard‑mitigation grant
Summary
Representatives from the Elks Lodge described a proposal to upgrade and earthquake‑proof an annex, add solar and create a regional emergency staging site; councilors agreed to provide letters of support to strengthen the Elks’ state FEMA hazard‑mitigation grant application.
Representatives of the local Elks Lodge told the Milwaukie City Council they have applied for a State of Oregon FEMA hazard‑mitigation grant to renovate an underused annex, make seismic improvements, add solar panels and upgrade utilities so the facility could operate off‑grid and serve as an emergency staging and shelter location for the surrounding community.
Elks representatives said the project would add solar capacity to make the building independent after a disaster, improve plumbing and electrical systems and allow the lodge to house an estimated 70–80 people indoors plus additional outdoor capacity on the lodge’s 5.4 acres. The lodge also described preexisting emergency work (holding water filters, pumps and volunteer teams) and collaboration with CERT and local emergency planners.
City councilors indicated support for the project and agreed to provide letters of support to strengthen the Elks’ application; council members noted the facility is physically outside Milwaukie city limits but said the lodge serves nearby residents and would be an important regional resource in a disaster. Council did not authorize funding but offered to provide supportive letters and to review the Elks’ application materials.
Next steps: council will sign a letter of support and staff will include that letter with the Elks’ grant submission materials.
