Natural disasters in both regions often disrupt the transportation and economic systems at multiple levels: local, state, and regional. The I-84 and US 97 corridors, nearby railroad lines, and the Columbia River are all vital to the regional economy, with over $100 billion in commerce moving through the two regions annually. These corridors are essential not only to Oregon but to the whole Pacific Northwest and provide the critical highway, barge, and rail links from Oregon and Washington to the eastern U.S., California, Mexico, and the other countries of the Pacific Rim.

In 2004, the Community Service Centers Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup (ONHW) at the University of Oregon partnered with the Mid-Columbia counties, Oregon Emergency Management (OEM), and Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) to develop a collaborative Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning Grant proposal for the Mid-Columbia region. The region consists of Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Wheeler, and Wasco counties. Each county joined the Partners for Disaster Resistance & Resilience (Partnership) by signing (through their county commissions) a Memorandum of Understanding for this project.

The grant was awarded and supported both local and state staff to development natural hazard mitigation plans. ONHW served as the lead project coordinator providing plan development support, technical resources, and a proven planning process / framework for each county. Each of the region’s counties took part in quarterly training series. This series included trainings on organizing to prepare the plan, conducting community vulnerability assessments, developing goals and action items, and implementing the plan. The final plans can be found on the individual county web site and the actions items can be found in the state action item database.

The Mid-Columbia Planning Initiative included  Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Wheeler, and Wasco counties. The Mid-Columbia region has experienced a 0.4% increase in population since 2000. This growth pattern is projected to continue at a moderate rate over the next 20 years. Sixty-one percent of the region's population lives in incorporated areas with the other 39% living in unincorporated areas. Forty-three percent of the region's houses were built before 1960, 32% between 1960 and 1980, and 25% were built after 1980.

The impact of a disaster can disrupt automobile traffic and shut down local transit systems across the region, making evacuation difficult. This is particularly important in this region where hazardous materials are being transported along Interstate 84 and nearby railroad lines. The average commute for workers in this region is 19 minutes each way. Seventy-six percent of the region's workers drive alone to work, 13% carpool, 6% walk or use other means, and 5% work at home. Most bridges in the area have not been seismically retrofitted, creating significant risk to the commuting population in areas at risk from earthquakes.

 In Region 5, the median household income is $37,355 annually, which is lower than the State of Oregon's median household income of $42,593. The economic base of the region is experiencing a transition from timber and wood products and aluminum industries to a service-based economy. Agriculture, especially wheat, is also a significant contributor to the economic base of the regional economy.

The Mid-Columbia Planning Initiative Phone Bridge Minutes
	July 27, 2005
	Nov 15, 2005
	Dec 15, 2005
	Feb 23, 2006
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	May 18, 2006
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	Sept 20, 2006
	Oct 19, 2006