Salem, OR – Five years after the devastating 2020 Labor Day wildfires, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) is honoring survivors, remembering those lost, and continuing to support communities still on the road to recovery.
The wildfires, which burned more than 1 million acres across 20 counties, destroyed 5,000 structures and claimed nine lives. Many Oregonians are still rebuilding, and ODHS leaders say the lessons of 2020 have reshaped how the state prepares for disasters.
“The 2020 wildfires made it clear that we must not only respond to disasters but also build resilience into everything we do,” said Liesl Wendt, ODHS deputy director. “We have seen firsthand how critical it is to keep people at the center of emergency planning.”
Building a Stronger Response
In the aftermath of the fires, ODHS created the Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM). The office has since expanded across the state, adding staff who work directly with local communities and Oregon’s Nine Federally Recognized Tribes to strengthen relationships and improve emergency readiness.
OREM also launched new systems to improve evacuation planning and identify vulnerable populations in disaster zones. During recent wildfires, this has allowed safety officers to quickly ensure at-risk Oregonians had plans to reach safety.
Ed Flick, OREM’s first and current director, recalled the challenge of opening shelters during the 2020 fires at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic: “Over 500,000 Oregonians were under evacuation orders. Traditional congregate shelters weren’t an option, so we had to build new networks of shelters and food providers almost overnight.”
Ongoing Commitment
Today, OREM coordinates mass care, social service recovery, and continuity of ODHS operations during crises. It also partners with communities to develop resilience hubs and cooling, warming, and clean air centers that can be activated during emergencies.
“Five years later, we continue to grieve with survivors and honor the resilience of the communities most deeply affected,” Wendt said. “Oregon is not fully recovered, but we are better prepared than we were in 2020.”
ODHS urges all Oregonians to sign up for OR Alert emergency notifications and visit ready.gov for preparedness resources.
