Together, We Prepare.
Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility. We're doing our part by making investments to prepare, replace and maintain our community's electric and water systems. Here are some of the ways we work proactively to keep the lights on and the tap water flowing.
Preventive Tree Trimming
Crews trim around 300 line miles of vegetation annually to minimize falling trees and branches. We employ four full-time, certified arborists to inspect and evaluate vegetation around power lines, and 11 contract crews perform all pruning and trimming work. Learn more and request tree trimming.
Emergency Water Supply Program
We're working with community partners to establish several emergency water distribution sites using groundwater wells and mobile water trailers. Each well site will have a backup generator to provide reliable standby power.
Water Infrastructure Investments
We're replacing water mains, fortifying reservoirs and pump stations, and undertaking major upgrades to the Hayden Bridge water filtration plant. Learn more about our Water Reliability Initiative.
Mutual Assistance
We participate in local and regional mutual aid agreements—voluntary partnerships between electric and water utilities to help each other with resources and restoration efforts following an emergency.
Eugene-Springfield Multi-Jurisdictional Hazards Mitigation Plan
This plan was developed to outline how the cities of Eugene and Springfield prepare for and respond to emergencies. The plan provides a community-wide approach to protect life, safety and health during emergencies and major disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, fires and winter storms. As a provider of essential services, EWEB participated in the development of the plan which was funded by the cities of Eugene and Springfield, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Pre-disaster Mitigation Grant Program. Read more about the Hazards Mitigation Plan.
Carmen-Smith Hydroelectric Project Upgrades
We're in the process of upgrading and relicensing Carmen-Smith to operate for at least 40 more years. The project's 110 megawatts of local generation is an important benefit to the community, particularly as we consider the potential of a Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake or other regional disasters. Learn more about our largest utility-owned power source.
Transmission System Upgrades
We're working on building a "resilient spine" in our electric transmission system. The idea is to enable us to move power from local generating resources to critical facilities, such as hospitals and public safety agencies, in an emergency.
Modernization Program
We're modernizing our meters, information systems, and internal processes to improve outage detection and response efforts. Customers who elect advanced, technology-enabled features will benefit from automated outage detection, early water leak detection, and other services.
Earthquake Early Warning System Sensor
We installed a Shake Alert early warning sensor at Leaburg Dam and a second sensor at Carmen-Smith. The sensor can give people precious seconds to take protective actions before the severe shaking waves from an earthquake arrive.
Disasters don't plan ahead. You can.
Here are some ways you can prepare, and stay safe, in the event of an emergency.
- Build an emergency kit with food, first aid, flashlights, batteries, medicines, and other supplies for two weeks.
- Store 14 gallons of water per person in your household.
- Make a family emergency plan for how you will communicate and reconnect in an emergency.
- Keep your cell phones charged and have an emergency, backup power source for your phones.
- Sign-up to receive emergency alerts on your mobile phone.
- Know how to turn off your utilities after an earthquake or other disasters.
- Get prepared with your neighbors to help the whole community become more disaster-resilient.
We've compiled some checklists and resources to help you prepare for all types of emergencies.
Make sure your current cell phone number is tied to your EWEB account.
To avoid extra steps during an outage, and to be placed on a restoration plan, please update your account with your current cell phone number by calling customer service at 541-685-7000, or by emailing EWEB.Answers@eweb.org. Learn more about reporting power outages.
