Brand Story – As climate change increases the likelihood of extreme weather events, communities across Oregon are better prepared than ever.
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In Chiloquin, a sleepy town nestled in the woods of Klamath County, Fire Chief Mike Cook stands next to a glistening 36,000-gallon water tank. This is more than just a water storage facility. It is a symbol of community resilience and a testament to the transformative power of strategic philanthropy. This tank changed the way Cook and his team fought fires.
They were driving 16 miles round trip to refuel their truck. Cook’s crews now protect not only Chiloquin, but 1,000 square miles of northeast Klamath County, allowing them to respond more quickly. “This is a huge benefit not only to Chiloquin Fire Rescue, but to many fire departments in central Klamath County,” Cook said.
This lifesaving improvement did not come from federal grants or state funding. Rather, it is one of the many lasting legacies left by the Community Rebuilding Fund, an innovative initiative born in the aftermath of Oregon’s devastating wildfires in 2020.
The new 36,000-gallon water tank was paid for by the Community Reconstruction Fund and will help Cook crews protect 1,000 square miles of northeast Klamath County.
A new model for disaster response
In September 2020, Oregon faced a crisis as wildfires swept across the state. The fires brought unprecedented hardship, but also an opportunity to rebuild stronger communities. In response, the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) joined with other foundations to launch a unique collaborative effort to change the landscape of disaster response in the state.
The Community Rebuilding Fund, a partnership between OCF, the Ford Family Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, and the American Red Cross, has redefined how Oregon responds to disasters. Before the fire spread, then-Governor Kate Brown made an emergency request to OCF. State and federal resources were scheduled to arrive, but they took a long time to arrive and were not sufficient to address the vast needs at hand. Meanwhile, individuals and organizations across Oregon and the nation were eager to help, but there was no single way to strategically collect and direct donations to provide long-term support for fire-stricken communities across the state. There were no groups. This unique initiative has evolved into a rapid, flexible, community-driven model of assistance that continues to shape the state’s approach to emergency management.
“There is always a need for immediate funding from philanthropy, which moves at a much faster pace than large amounts of public funding,” said Carlos Garcia, OCF’s senior program officer for the environment. “And you better be aware of that and plan for it.”
Community-driven solutions
In Medford, the foundation’s impact is evident in the work of La Clínica, a community health center that has expanded its reach thanks to grant support. La Clinica was able to train and integrate community health workers into local schools and support teams. This is critical to supporting Latino/a/x adults and children, including the families of many farmworkers who were severely affected by the fires.
This community-driven approach is a hallmark of the fund’s strategy. By putting decision-making power in the hands of those most affected, the Fund ensures resources are directed to where they are needed most. In the Mackenzie River Valley east of Eugene, fires displaced many residents of the area’s small rural communities, but led to the construction of new child care centers serving low-income families. This is a key element of the region’s long-term recovery and resilience.
Mackenzie Valley Long Term Recovery Group
Building capacity for the long haul
Perhaps the most significant impact of the Community Recovery Fund will be its investment in long-term recovery groups. Many of these local organizations did not exist before the 2020 fires, but are now essential hubs for disaster response and community support. Philanthropic funds from the foundation allowed these organizations to get up and running when federal and state resources were not available.
“This is one of the biggest things[the foundation]has been able to do: provide a real ability to stay in the community and be able to help people who have experienced traumatic events,” said The Foundation. said Max Gimbel, Rural Community Building Director. Ford Family Foundation. “Instead of waiting nine months to access resources, you can now receive them in nine hours.”
This investment in local production capacity has paid off beyond immediate recovery efforts. In Chiloquin, momentum from Community Rebuilding Fund support will enable local leaders to pursue other innovative grants, including a potential $20 million project to build a community resiliency hub It has become.
Ripple effects across the state
The success of the Community Rebuilding Fund has led to widespread changes in how Oregon prepares for and responds to disasters. The Oregon Disaster Funding Network is currently comprised of OCF and 36 other funders and operates multiple times a year to respond to a variety of crises across the state.
OCF also established the Oregon Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund, a permanent fund that provides grants to quickly respond to immediate needs such as shelter, food and supplies after a disaster. The fund has already been activated for a variety of events, from the Cedar Creek Fire in Lane County in 2022 to floods and ice storms in Tillamook County in early 2024.
looking to the future
As climate change increases the likelihood of extreme weather events, the lessons learned from the Community Rebuilding Fund are more important than ever. The foundation’s legacy lives on in stronger, better-prepared communities across Oregon.
“Finally, small tribal, disadvantaged and historically underserved communities can feel like someone cares about them,” said Kathy Stuhl, Chiloquin community builder. says. “There are people who recognize our situation and offer support, so that people in our community can take that support and move forward and do something on a larger scale for our community. You can.”
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