Oregon Permit Technicians Association |
A Message from the OPTA Board Fall in Oregon means transition—and if there's one thing we've learned, it's that Oregon's transitions are rarely gentle. As we move from the tail end of fire season into what promises to be another active storm season, now's the perfect time to shift our preparedness focus. This summer reminded us once again that wildfire season isn't just about the traditional "fire months" anymore. We saw late-season fires stretch well into September, while early fall storms brought their own challenges with flash flooding and power outages. It's become clear that the old seasonal playbook needs some updates. From Smoke to Storms: Adapting Your Go-Bag If you updated your emergency kit for fire season, don't pack it away just yet. Instead, consider a seasonal rotation:
The Reality of Oregon's New "Normal" We're seeing more overlap in hazard seasons than ever before. September fires can be followed by October floods, which can lead to November ice storms. The key isn't predicting exactly what will happen—it's building flexibility into our preparedness plans. What We're Watching This Fall:
Small Steps, Big Impact:
We know everyone's busy, but taking 15 minutes now to update contact info, check batteries, and review plans can save hours of stress when conditions deteriorate quickly. Share Your Wisdom Spring's unpredictable weather taught us a lot, but fall brings its own lessons. If you've discovered new resources, tried different approaches, or learned something that worked (or didn't), we want to hear about it. Send your insights our way so we can keep our Emergency Resources page current and community-tested. Essential Resources for Fall Preparedness:
Here's to a fall season where we're ready for whatever Oregon weather decides to throw our way—because let's be honest, it's probably going to be something we didn't see coming. |
Do you know the difference between types of ASSESSORS involved after a disaster? |
Property Assessor (Tax Assessor) | Disaster Response Assessor (Building Safety Evaluator) Note: Their evaluation determines if a building is red-, yellow-, or green-tagged—not how much repairs will cost. | Insurance Assessor (Claims Adjuster) Role: Evaluates property damage to determine what the insurance company will cover. |
Oregon Division of Financial Regulation warns people to be careful before signing assignment of benefits agreement after natural disaster. July 25, 2024 Salem – With wildfires raging across the state, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) wants to make sure people are taken care of in the event of a catastrophe and warned of those who may want to take advantage of a vulnerable situation. One of those ways is through an assignment of benefits (AOB) agreement, which is a contract between a homeowner and a third party that transfers the insurance claim rights or benefits in an insurance policy to the third party. This allows the third party, which is typically a contractor, plumber, roofer, or other construction professional, to file the claim, make decisions about home repairs, and collect insurance payments without involving the homeowner. DFR stresses that you are not required to enter an AOB with a third party to have repairs done – you can file a claim directly to your insurance company. An AOB can be a useful tool for getting repairs done, as it allows the repair company to deal directly with an insurance company when negotiating repairs. It also allows the insurer to pay the repair company directly. However, an AOB is a legal contract, so policyholders need to understand the rights they are signing away and make sure the repair company is trustworthy. Here are some reminders:
“It is important for homeowners to know their rights and understand what they are agreeing to with an assignment of benefits,” said Andrew R. Stolfi, Oregon insurance commissioner and director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “Importantly, you are signing away your right to control many decisions related to the repair of your home. While this arrangement can be a good thing with the right contractor, it can result in a headache if it ends up in the wrong hands.” DFR reminds homeowners to be diligent and alert for fraud. Home repair fraud is common after a natural disaster, and some contractors may prey on victims in hopes of making a quick buck. It is usually a good idea to do business with local businesses or trusted companies. Check references and talk to your friends and family. You should also always confirm that a contractor is licensed in the state of Oregon. Your insurance company may also have recommendations, and you should get more than one bid for your repairs. “It is also essential that homeowners protect their investment by only working with contractors that have been licensed with the Construction Contractors Board (CCB),” said Chris Huntington, Oregon CCB administrator. “Homeowners should always visit the CCB website to verify the license and review the history of the contractor they are considering for the job. The CCB provides a variety of resources to help homeowners avoid scams and successfully complete their repair work after any disaster.” Anyone who has questions or feels they may have been taken advantage of can always contact one of our consumer advocates at 888-877-4894 (toll-free) or through email at dfr.insurancehelp@dcbs.oregon.gov. For more information about AOB agreements, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners offers additional resources and information. DFR also has resources on understanding homeowners insurance and other insurance tips, including a brochure designed to help homeowners avoid disaster scams. |
Wildfire Safety Resources
Oregon Permit Technicians Association P.O. Box 634 Springfield, OR 97477 Info@oregonpermittechs.com |
Current Wildfire Information and Tracking
Oregon Department of Forestry – Current wildfire information
Northwest Interagency Coordination Center – Current Northwest Fire Information
Oregon State Fire Marshal – Current wildfire maps
InciWeb – National Incident Information System
Oregon Live’s Wildfire Tracker
Wildfire Prevention and Preparedness
BCD – Wildfire hazard mitigation
Keep Oregon Green – Prevent wildfires: do your part
Oregon Department of Forestry – Prevent wildfires
Give your home a fighting chance
Prepare for and prevent wildfires
Personal and Community Safety
Oregon Office of Emergency Management – Individual Preparedness
CDC – Wildfires and wildfire smoke and Preparing for wildfires
Oregon OSHA - Heat illness prevention
BOLI – Heat and air quality hazards
Oregon Health Authority – Preventing heat-related illnesses
Federal OSHA – Heat illness prevention
National Integrated Heat Health Information System - Heat.gov
Red Cross – Extreme heat safety
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Protect yourself from the dangers of extreme heat
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) – Extreme heat
Ready.gov – Extreme heat
National Weather Service – Heat safety tips and resources
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – You can help prevent hot car deaths
Wildfire Response and Recovery
Oregon wildfire response and recovery
Oregon Department of Agriculture – Wildfire resources
DFR - Wildfire insurance resources
BCD – Locate your local building department
Taking a few moments to review these resources can make a significant difference in your safety and the safety of those around you. As wildfires continue to impact our state, it is essential to stay informed and prepared. Together, we can navigate these challenges and protect our communities.
Stay safe, stay vigilant, and keep an eye out for each other.
| Oregon Permit Technicians Association P.O. Box 634 Springfield, OR 97477 | Contact
us: info@oregonpermittechs.com |
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