Residents Urged to “Pledge to Prepare” for Disasters

With September designated as National Preparedness Month, the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) is encouraging residents to take part in its Pledge to Prepare program — a step-by-step guide to becoming “2 Weeks Ready” for emergencies.

The program, launched in 2019, helps households move from unprepared to confident by breaking the process of disaster readiness into manageable monthly steps. Participants receive checklists, reminders, and a year-long calendar of tasks designed to reduce the stress of gathering supplies and planning ahead.

“Preparedness is a shared responsibility,” said Jenny Demaris, an EWEB emergency management specialist. “When the utility system is reinforced and households are equipped, emergency services can focus on those most in need. Together, resilient infrastructure and ready homes and businesses create a more prepared community.”

The call to action comes as Lane County marks the five-year anniversary of the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, including the devastating Holiday Farm Fire in the McKenzie River Valley. It also follows the severe 2024 ice storm, which knocked out service for tens of thousands of customers and required major repairs to poles, wires, and transformers. EWEB notes that natural disasters — from winter storms to wildfires — occur regularly in Oregon, and the looming threat of a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake remains one of the most severe risks to the region’s infrastructure.

Community members who have already participated in the program say the structured approach makes a difference. “EWEB’s Pledge to Prepare Program made the daunting task of emergency preparedness manageable by breaking it down into bite-sized monthly tasks,” said Andrea D., a 2024 participant. “This approach significantly reduced the stress of purchasing necessary items and allowed for strategic, step-by-step planning throughout the year.”

Thousands of residents have taken the pledge so far, and EWEB hopes more will join this year. Even small steps, the utility says, can help families feel safer and create capacity to support neighbors during a crisis.

Meanwhile, EWEB says it continues to invest in infrastructure resiliency by upgrading systems, training staff, and improving efficiency — all while seeking cost savings to limit future rate impacts.

Residents interested in the program can sign up online and start building their emergency plans today at tinyurl.com/3nepm9yk