Agencies warn staffing, data cuts could complicate Oregon winter response
State emergency managers, transportation and utility officials told lawmakers they are preparing for a heavy winter season but face staffing shortfalls, reduced federal data feeds and uneven local capacity for mass care. Funding from a special session averted service cuts for highways, officials said.
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Andrew Jahir, director of response and recovery at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, told the House Interim Committee on Emergency Management and Veterans that the state’s priorities entering the winter are “protecting lives, maintaining critical services, and ensuring rapid and coordinated recovery.” Jahir cited three recent severe winter incidents and said they exposed how quickly local capacity can be strained without coordinated support.
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