Building resilience in our agriculture sector and being prepared to respond to emergencies have never been more important. In addition to extreme weather events and natural disasters, producers can also be impacted by disease outbreaks and on-farm accidents.
Oregonians are subject to natural disasters including:
- Floods
- Wildfire and smoke damage
- Earthquakes
- Drought
- Severe winter weather
These disasters can lead to:
- Livestock and crop loss
- Feed and supply disruptions
- Power outages
- Delays in veterinary care or critical services
- Infrastructure damage
- Road closures
- Financial loss
- Excessive stress and mental health impacts
- Loss of a home or way of life
Before an Emergency
- Make an emergency plan, and review and update it each year. This plan should also include a business continuity plan that describes how you will continue to operate after a major disruption.
- Enroll in insurance programs and register your farm at your local USDA FSA office.
- Partner with local resources, including ag extension offices and conservation districts.
- Prepare to be self-sufficient for 3 days to 2+ weeks.
- Sign up for
OR-Alert and
211 emergency alerts.
- Update emergency contacts.
- Maintain a portable disaster kit.
- Map and practice your evacuation routes.
- Identify your animals. Keep records in a safe location.
During an Emergency
- Take shelter at home or go to an evacuation center.
- Pay attention to news announcements and emergency alerts.
- Follow instructions from local officials.
After an Emergency
- Report any losses to your insurance provider and local emergency management office.
- Seek assistance through
USDA’s Disaster Assistance Discover Tool.
- Call or text the AgriStress Helpline if you or someone you know is struggling with mental health: 833-897-2474.
Disaster Information and Resources
Natural Disasters & Extreme Weather
Animals and Disease Outbreaks
For additional resources related to emergency preparedness for animal owners, visit ODA's
Animal Health program.
Accidents
Mental Health & Stress
The Oregon
AgriStress Helpline is here for the agricultural community, dedicated to serving farming, ranching, fisheries and forestry communities.
- It is available 24/7 by call or text to 833-897-2474.
- All calls are answered within 30 seconds.
- All callers are screened, and intervention occurs for people at imminent risk. Others are offered relevant resources.
- All callers are offered 24-hour follow-up calls, also through the Helpline.
Focuses on communication and collaboration with partners across the region to offer funding opportunities, support in navigating resources, compassion, and education.