As our community faces alarming climate and health crises, ProFocus understands we must lead with both empathy and action. This month our company donated $2,000 to the Northwest Relief Fund for Oregon Wildfires and committed to 90+ volunteer hours to support local restoration and relief efforts.
Tech & Wildfires
The technology industry, including the Silicon Forest, has contributed more than just resources, time, and money to protect our community during these unprecedented climate disasters. The technology behind the thermal imaging being used to help firefighters on the frontlines of wildfires is local, with one of the innovators based in Wilsonville.
When aircraft can’t fly low enough to drop fire suppressants, sometimes planes with thermal imaging technology can fly higher allowing firefighters and first responders to collect valuable data. The data helps to map out evacuation routes, spot people trapped, and see which areas are actively burning.
When the Smoke Clears
As the smoke clears for many on the West coast, we understand that the climate threats and damage caused will take more than just a rainstorm to solve. Below are resources that will be useful to those impacted or just those interested in supporting their neighbors.
Need Help?
- If you sustained uninsured losses or damage due to wildfires beginning Sept. 7, 2020, you may be eligible for disaster aid. Federal funds are available to help eligible individuals recover from wildfire in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion Counties. For more information on this relief please click here.
Want To Help?
- Oregon Recovers has options for individuals as well as businesses to volunteer, donate, and support local relief efforts. Check out their website for more volunteer opportunities like the ones listed below:
- Transportation
- Healthcare
- Delivery
- Administrative
- Heavy Lifting & Carrying
- Outreach
- Childcare
- Petcare
- Instruction & Teaching
- Oregon’s Red Cross also needs volunteer support. Check out the most urgent needs in your area here.
Where To Take Donations?
- The Estacada Community Center donations will be disinfected and delivered to those who receive Meals on Wheels Program assistance. See their current list of essential needs and food items here.
- The Pet Evacuation Team is an animal rescue station helping pets displaced and affected by the fires. Check out their list of needs. If you aren’t in the drop-off area in Redmond, you can ship directly from their Amazon wish list to the center.
- The Oregon Sierra Club has teamed up with the Rural Organizing Project, Oregon’s farmworker union PCUN, and Rogue Climate for a group drive. They have a long list of donation item requests ranging from reading glasses to menstrual supplies with an emphasis needed on N95 masks, respirators, air purifiers, and diapers for adults and babies. Portlanders can drop off daily from 9AM-8PM at 1821 SE Ankeny St.
What Has Changed in Oregon?
- A total of 24 parks have been closed since Sep. 7. Check out local alerts and travel resources here.
- The extreme weather conditions that led into the Labor Day weekend wildfires were unlike anything Oregon’s seen before but could become more frequent. Check out the predictions and research in the OPB article here.
If you are able, please join ProFocus in our effort to support our community as we face multiple on-going crises. It will take all of us to give space for grieving, give resources to restore, and give attention to how we can build a safe and healthy future for everyone in our community.
