July 30, 2023 3:30 a.m.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners have awarded a $107,800 grant to the Douglas Public Health Network to expand the new and successful Emergency Preparedness Program for Older Adults in Douglas County.

The program is a cooperative undertaking between DPHN, the Board of Commissioners, and Douglas County Senior Services. It was launched after receiving a $7,500 Elder Services Innovation Grant from the Oregon Office of Rural Health along with kick start funding from the county to help pay for the first two hundred preparedness handbooks and starter go-kits.

The release said the program is the first of its kind in Oregon and has received praise from federal, state and county agencies for its approach to helping older adults become better prepared during emergencies.

Since its inception, staff has collaborated with other agencies including the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, the sheriff’s office, emergency management, Douglas Forest Protective Association, American Red Cross and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to create fifty-six-page emergency preparedness handbooks called, “Umpqua Prepared”. It serves as a guide for residents “to help them be the help until help arrives”.

DPHN plans to continue this program through the end of the year and is working on acquiring additional funding to hopefully expand the program to more local residents in the future.

For more information about the program, contact DPHN at 440-3571 or go to www.douglaspublichealthnetwork.org.