Oregon is the 9th largest state in the Union encompassing approximately 98,000 square miles. Oregon has 36 counties and 241 cities. In February 2002, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) published interim final rule 44 CFR Part 201, which established the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program and requires all states and communities to develop natural hazard mitigation plans in order to apply for FEMA mitigation project funding.

Since 2000, the Partnership for Disaster Resilience at the University of Oregon’s Community Service Center has been leading a statewide planning initiative to build capacity for the development of mitigation plans and projects. The planning initiative is in partnership with Oregon Emergency Management (OEM), Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI), FEMA Region X, and local governments. 

The current planning Initiative covers over 2/3 of the geographic area of Oregon and nearly 2/3 of the counties. Oregon Emergency Management established eight natural hazards planning regions.

The Partnership & Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program