How Oregonians can stay safe from wildfire smoke

The Civics Education Initiative, a statewide program sponsored by the Oregon State Capital Foundation. They help Oregonians learn how our government and democracy work and how you can get involved and make a difference. Grant applications to help nonprofit and educational organizations support civics education programs throughout Oregon are open now through September 30th at Oregoncapitalfoundation.org. This fall, let Curiosity lead you to Newport. The Newport Festival of Arts and Culture brings together music, arts, markets, culinary experiences, and community celebrations on the Oregon Coast. From September through November, take in world-class performances, explore the historic Bayfront, and discover the stories that make Newport unique. Unlock exclusive lodging offers for OPB listeners at Discovernewport.com slash OPB. The Newport Festival of Arts and Culture? where creativity is in the water. This is Think Out Loud. On OPB, I'm Jeff Norcross, in for Dave Miller. At the moment, Central Oregon has some of the worst air quality in the world. Smoke from nearby wildfires has sent air quality index values soaring. The city of Prineville is in the top 10 for worst air quality in the country right now. That's according to air now.com. We're going to start the show by checking in with Crook County, Oregon. Katie Plum is the Health and Human Services Director for the county, and she joins us now. Katie, welcome to the show. Good afternoon. Thank you for having me. How is the air in Prineville right now? What does it look like? Smell like, taste like? It's beautiful. We're getting some relief today. I can see blue sky, and it's a welcome break from the smoke for sure. How's it different than what it has been? Yes, yes. There's definitely been more days than not. It's hard to see distances. You can't see across town. So the blue sky is a welcome site. Sure. What are you hearing about how folks in Crook County are being affected by the smoke when it's there?

It's people are definitely seeking out spaces that have cleaner air. So we're distributing a lot of air purifiers, a lot of do-it-yourself filters so that people can get some relief when they're inside. I think a lot of people are limiting their outside activities, those who can. Even our indoor air quality is affected. So there's a lot of work being done to provide spaces that are safe for folks. Yeah, you mentioned those who can stay inside are being advised to, but of course many people are forced to be outside, maybe because they work outside or because they're experiencing homelessness. What resources are available to them? Yes, we do have public spaces that are available for people who are unhoused so that they can get in, get some cooler air. It's really hot right now too, so getting some relief both from the temperature and the air quality. For folks who are working, we do have N95 masks available that we're distributing to employers. A lot of employers, they have guidance where they're increasing breaks, limiting exertion. If we can make adjustments for folks the schedules who are outside, we're doing so maybe delaying projects or modifying them. So people are staying healthy. Who are the most vulnerable people in Crook County right now? The unhoused, certainly, because it's... hard to get out of the smoke when you don't feel like maybe you have a safe place to do so. Our children, infants, those who are pregnant are definitely more sensitive to the effects of poor air quality. And those who are elderly, those who have chronic conditions already, can certainly feel more of an impact by being outdoors in this. How are you getting information to people in the county who don't speak English? Now, we have partner organizations that are doing a lot of that outreach for us. They are already working with, say, our Spanish-speaking population. So we're really grateful to be able to provide both resources and information to them so that... There are people that are already trusted and know the culture and the language to be able to get the information and the resources out. Yeah. If you're just tuning in, we're talking about the dangers of poor air quality in Crook County, Oregon. And Katie Plum is the Health and Human Services Director there. Katie, are you from Crook County? I'm from Central Oregon. I live right next door in Redmond. Okay. So you've seen the trends. More wildfires, more smoky days. Are you seeing that play out on the ground there? Yes, absolutely. It is more common across Central Oregon where the fires are more intense. They're affecting populated areas more often.

especially in the last eight to 10 years in my observation here in Central Oregon. Do you feel that you have the money you need, the support you need from the Crook County Board of Commissioners or the state legislature to do your job? We have received an influx of support from private foundations, from state entities. We were able to receive FEMA funding recently. So we're... We have good resources and are putting them to use as quickly as possible. If folks who are in a position to be able to help, want to help and can help, what can they do to help other vulnerable people in the county? I mean, time and resources are most valuable in emergency situations. And so... Connecting with organizations that are already here and doing the work on the ground is a great option. Supporting organizations that can open up space for the public. We have really generous businesses in town who are making meals for firefighters and opening their doors for folks to come in and get out of the smoke. So supporting our local businesses is great if you don't know a way, a specific way. to maybe contribute to the effort supporting our local businesses is one way because they also turn around and invest in our community. Yeah, and Central Oregon, of course, is a destination in the summer for anybody who might be thinking about coming to your county. What's your message to them? Okay, coming over, like I said, it's beautiful today. Look at the forecasts. The air quality can change quickly, and it can be drastically different in one part of Central Oregon than it is in another. So if you're coming this way, you maybe have a couple options in mind for things that you want to do. You might adjust accordingly once you get here. And also... Look at forecasts. It might be totally different in a couple hours, too. What is the most important preventative measure that everybody in Crook County can take right now? Monitor yourself. Monitor your body and maybe those you care for, your neighbors, your children.

Look for symptoms because everyone reacts a little bit differently, has different tolerance for poor air quality. So be aware of symptoms that might indicate a need to either take more breaks or find additional resources to be able to prevent from. potentially feeling like you have to go get care from a provider, go into urgent care. So we're really encouraging people to monitor for their heart rate, their breathing ability to take deep breaths and adjust accordingly. Okay. And last question. What is the best way for folks in Crow County to get information or resources or support right now if they're feeling the effects of the smoke? Yes, there's a couple local websites. They can call 2-1-1. They can go online to the Crook County website, and we have resources available there as well as on our social media. Katie Plum, thank you so much for the time, and best of luck. Of course, thank you. Katie Plum is the Health and Human Services Director in Crook County, Oregon.