Area bank offers disaster preparation tips for emergency

UMPQUA BANK

As most in the Pacific Northwest are well aware, wildfire season can have a devastating effect on families, businesses and communities. That’s why there’s so much emphasis on preparation well in advance for a potential emergency – from packing disaster kits to keeping emergency “go” bags close by. This wildfire season, Umpqua Bank is sharing tips for financial preparedness in the event of an emergency, in addition to what you’ve already packed in your disaster kits.

Keep Important Documents Close

Effective disaster preparedness includes the safe storage of, and easy access to, critical financial and insurance documents you may need in an emergency. Consider keeping these important items in a lockbox you can easily grab and go in a disaster. Or, better yet, check with your bank about their safe deposit box offerings for proper safekeeping. Safe deposit boxes are specifically designed to withstand natural disasters such as floods, fires and tornados.

Documents to consider storing securely in one place include:

• Copy of your passport (or the original if you travel very infrequently)

• Birth certificate

• Marriage license

• Death certificates

• Social Security card

• Copy of your driver’s license

• Titles to your home and vehicles

• Copies of wills, trusts, powers of attorney and medical directives

• Insurance policies

• List of bank accounts, investments and credit cards

• Storage device with photos of belongings and/or an inventory list

• Some cash

If you choose to go the safe deposit box route, “Keep your safe deposit box key on your car ring,” says Clint Gillum, Umpqua Bank Region Manager for the Inland Northwest region.

“A key in a desk drawer can be lost in a natural disaster. Also, consider adding a trusted co-lessor to your box. This person will be able to access the box when and if you can’t.”

Make Sure You’re Insurance Ready

Now is also a good time to check with your insurance agent to ask about the documentation they recommend to have on hand should you need to file a claim. This will likely include things like:

• Detailed photos of expensive items and their serial numbers

• Photos and a list of jewelry, furniture and anything else of greater value or importance

• A video of your home or business and its contents

Remember to back up your photos and videos in the cloud and on a storage device you keep in your safe deposit box.

You may also want to ask your insurer whether your homeowner’s insurance covers your safe deposit items. While bank accounts are covered by FDIC-insurance, the contents in a safe deposit box are not.

Check with Your Trusted Financial Partners

It’s also smart to know ahead of time what types of assistance your financial institution may offer in the event of an emergency. Assistance could include things like the ability to pause payments in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, mortgage assistance if your ability to pay has been impacted or even rebuilding assistance for damaged homes.

If you live in a higher risk area, check with your bank now to see what they offer and what steps you would need to take to access this assistance. Don’t wait until a fire, earthquake or other natural disaster strikes to understand what options may be available to you.

Making sure you’ve considered all of the financial and insurance possibilities can help you move quickly in the event of a disaster, when time is critical for recovery.

AWS Community Fund accepting project applications

Amazon Web Services

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announces that applications are now open for the AWS InCommunities Fund, a community grant program that supports local initiatives in Morrow and Umatilla Counties.

AWS has committed $300,000 to the fund, which is open to individuals, local community groups, schools, non-profits, and other organizations. This is the second consecutive year AWS is launching a fund to support local projects driving positive change in eastern Oregon as part of its commitment to support communities where it has presence.

Applicants for this year’s fund can apply for grants up to $10,000 to launch a new or expand an existing community project, focused on one of the following themes: science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) education, sustainability, economic development, workforce development, inclusion, diversity and equity, homelessness, hunger, health and well-being. Applicants can also apply for funding to introduce one of seven established community programs that have been successful in other communities across the world.

“AWS has a long-standing commitment to support meaningful programs in the communities where our employees live and work,” said David Tanner, Director of Data Center Operations for AWS. “Through our AWS InCommunities Fund, we have the unique opportunity to empower residents and inspire the deployment of bold, community-driven ideas that can be transformative and positively impact our neighborhoods.”

Applications for the AWS InCommunities Fund will be accepted until September 1, 2023. The AWS InCommunities fund will be managed and administered by non-profit organization ChangeX. ChangeX will review applications, and will assess and score them against funding criteria and the positive impact to the community, especially underserved populations. All successful applicants will complete a 30-day challenge, which includes mentorship and other resources, to kick-start their idea and take their first steps towards making their project a reality.

To apply to the AWS InCommunities Fund or for more information, visit www.changex.org.

Letter To The Editor

I have some concerns and comments on the construction of a costly wellness center in our community. Nowhere in our tribal Constitution, or Enrollment Code, is there a classification of, “not enrolled but employed” by the CTUIR. So, why is this group being given a voice in a major tribal project? It is obvious that Don Sampson, Executive Director, is basing much of his plans on the opinions of this non-recognized group.

In my opinion, non-Indians, employee or not, should not have a voice at all in major tribal endeavor, such as this. Also, under what authority are all these costly plans being made? In 1996, the Board of Trustees delegated, by resolution, policy-making authority for all health care and related services to the tribal Health Commission.

I served on the Health Commission for twenty years, from 1995 to 2015, and during that time the Health Commission never approved a resolution to plan for a wellness center that would serve non-Indians. I also served on the BOT from 2009-2015, and to the best of my knowledge, the BOT has never rescinded or amended the delegation of health policy authority to the tribal Health Commission.

Sampson states, “We’re going to do it. We’ve talked about it for too long”. However, just talking about a new wellness center does not mean it has the necessary approval of the appropriate policymaking tribal body. In this situation, that is the Health Commission. Also, it is improper for management, executive or not, to be a self-appointed policy-maker. This is an obvious conflict of interest.

Sincerely,

Bob Shippentower

StrongHearts supports Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act

EAGAN, Minn. - Domestic and sexual violence impacts more than 1.3 million Americans nationwide and Native American and Alaska Natives experience disproportionately high rates of violence. According to the National Institute of Justice, 84 percent of Native women experience violence in their lifetimes, and 56 percent experience sexual violence.

Legislation introduced July 28 contains significant enhancements for Tribal Nations and will dedicate funding, for the first time, for Tribal Coalitions and a National Indian Domestic Violence Hotline. “These are critical enhancements and will improve access to and the delivery of services to our relatives across the country,” said CEO Lori Jump, StrongHearts Native Helpline. “We applaud the efforts of U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Lisa Murkowski (RAK) who introduced legislation today.”

“I’m introducing the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act because there are far too many people in this Nation suffering from abuse and violence, particularly those from underserved communities,” said Senator Casey. “I look forward to working with Senator Murkowski to make sure survivors across America have the support they need.”

“I’m proud to once again join Senator Casey in introducing the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act to provide victims of domestic violence with the critical support they need,” Senator Lisa Murkowski said. “Too many Alaskans in rural communities face obstacles to receiving help. This bill would work to increase access to services like crisis counseling, emergency shelters, and support prevention efforts. We must continue to improve access to support services for victims and their children and build on efforts to improve the safety of Alaska’s communities.” resources, to kick-start their idea and take their first steps towards making their project a reality.

The Family Violence Prevention and Services Act of 1984 (FVPSA) was signed into law in 1984 as the federal government’s first response to the crisis of domestic violence, providing support via grants to domestic violence shelters and programs, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline, and domestic violence coalitions.

To apply to the AWS InCommunities Fund or for more information, visit www.changex.org.