Disaster preparedness is most effective when it starts at the community level. Whether it's organizing neighborhood response teams, participating in local emergency drills, or educating others about safety plans, there are many meaningful ways to contribute. Two common ways to get involved are by volunteering with an established emergency response group and by joining a grassroots community club focused on preparedness.
Getting involved not only strengthens your own resilience but also helps build a safer, more connected community that can respond quickly and effectively when disaster strikes. In Lane County, you’ll find a variety of opportunities to take action, no matter your skills, interests, or availability.
LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS
Deadwood Community Association (DCA) organizes its efforts through five key groups focused on communication, environmental protection, community safety, health, and food security. Their goals include establishing a neighborhood communication network; supporting local producers, the co-op, and the farmer’s market to ensure access to healthy food amid economic and climate challenges; improving access to medical care and providing support for homebound residents; building partnerships with regional organizations and advocating for essential services and disaster preparedness; and protecting our environment by monitoring logging activity, opposing chemical spraying, and addressing watershed impacts.
Eugene Neighborhood Association Program comprises twenty-three (23) formally recognized neighborhood associations, many of which play a vital role in local emergency preparedness. These associations provide a structure for neighbors to connect, coordinate, and plan for disasters, making them a key part of building a more resilient community. By getting involved in your neighborhood association, you can help ensure that your area is better equipped to respond to emergencies and support one another during times of crisis. From developing neighborhood emergency plans to organizing preparedness training and communication systems, these groups are essential in strengthening local disaster readiness.
LOCAL/REGIONAL
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Lane County Community Organizations in Disaster (COAD)
The mission of Lane County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) is to bring together a broad array of community organizations to foster an effective response to the people of Lane County in times of active disaster response.
Red Cross
Volunteers carry out 90% humanitarian work of Red Cross, and the local chapter responds to emergencies and disasters in our community.
St. Vincent de Paul
Disasters disproportionately impact people experiencing homelessness, who often lack access to safe shelter, resources, and emergency information. The Lane County SVdP delivers an array of resources and services to provide shelter, food, safety, material and financial assistance, and other forms of tangible help to those experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Trauma Intervention Program of Lane County
TIP volunteers provide emotional first aid to survivors of tragedy in order to ease their immediate suffering and facilitate their healing and long-term recovery.
STATE OF OREGON
SERV-OR
SERV-OR is Oregon’s roster of licensed physicians, nurses, pharmacists, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), behavioral health providers, respiratory therapists and others who have registered to volunteer in response to local, state, and/or federal emergencies.