City of Springfield Reflects on 2024 Ice Storm: A Year of Recovery, Resilience, and Lessons Learned
January marks the one-year anniversary of the 2024 Ice Storm, one of the most significant weather events in Springfield’s recent history. The storm brought widespread challenges, from severe damage to infrastructure and homes to power outages and road closures, but also demonstrated the resilience of our community and the strength of collaboration among Team Springfield partners: the City of Springfield, Willamalane Park and Recreation District, Springfield Public Schools, and Springfield Utility Board.
A Look Back at the 2024 Ice Storm
From January 13 to January 17, 2024, Springfield faced severe winter conditions that affected approximately 20,000 trees, damaged 241 homes, and disrupted power and critical services for days. Advanced planning began on January 5, with City operations ramping up to a fully activated Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by January 16 to coordinate efforts with Lane County and other partners. Unified Command was established with Lane County and the Oregon Department of Forestry to ensure seamless coordination across agencies and resources.
Key highlights of the response include:
• Clearing 172 miles of roads and managing over 2,300 downed trees by February.
• Distributing 6,200 bundles of firewood and providing support to over 4,100 residents at the Community Resource Center.
• Coordinating public safety efforts, including wellness checks, food deliveries, and resource distribution.
Collaboration Strengthened Over Years
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Team Springfield Executives have met weekly to coordinate responses and share resources to address the most pressing challenges facing the community. This ongoing collaboration was instrumental during the ice storm, enabling the team to act swiftly and effectively to protect community members and restore services.
Developing Solutions Post-Storm
In the aftermath of the storm, Team Springfield identified opportunities to enhance its emergency management capabilities. A key initiative led and managed by the City of Springfield was the development of the Springfield Emergency Response Application (SERA), a centralized tool designed to track incidents, provide real-time updates, and manage wellness checks and resource distribution. This innovation reflects Springfield’s commitment to continuous improvement in protecting its community members.
In Progress: Building a Stronger Future Together
Over the past year, Springfield’s elected officials and Team Springfield partners have gathered to evaluate lessons from the 2024 Ice Storm. These discussions have identified opportunities for improvement and highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure the city is better prepared for future emergencies.
Ongoing initiatives include:
• Incident Command System (ICS) training for staff to enhance response efficiency.
• Emergency-activated AM radio station and alternative communication tools to address power outage challenges.
• Infrastructure upgrades through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Partner Reflections and Contributions
Each partner agency played a vital role during the storm response. Their reflections and future plans underscore the collective commitment to community safety:
City of Springfield
The City of Springfield played a central role in leading the response efforts to the 2024 Ice Storm. Through the activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the City coordinated resources and ensured a seamless response with Team Springfield partners, Lane County, and the Oregon Department of Forestry.
“Our experience during the 2024 Ice Storm was a true test of our community’s strength and resilience. For many, it was an incredibly difficult and challenging time. Yet, through a unified response and the remarkable spirit of the Springfield community, we faced these hardships together and emerged stronger. With our Team Springfield partners, we remain dedicated to learning, improving, and ensuring we’re ready to serve and protect our community in times of crisis.”
– Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon
Key contributions include:
- Managing the clearance of over 172 miles of roads and 2,300 downed trees to restore safe transportation corridors.
- Leading community support efforts, including the distribution of over 6,200 firewood bundles and serving more than 4,100 residents through the Community Resource Center.
- Providing transparent and timely communication with over 100 social media updates and the launch of a dedicated storm response and resource webpage.
Looking forward, the City is taking steps to build on these efforts by implementing ICS training for all staff, developing alternative communication tools like an emergency-activated AM radio station, and pursuing long-term hazard mitigation projects.
Willamalane Parks and Recreation District:
Supported community outreach by gathering business information for resource flyers, which were published on the City’s dedicated storm response webpage.
Springfield School District:
The school served more than a thousand meals at two respite centers, allowing students and their families a place to connect and recharge. Despite widespread outages and significant damage, most students returned to school on Tuesday, January 23, 2025. Additionally, the District supported community outreach by distributing critical information to families and staff, including the City and County’s messaging.
Springfield Utility Board:
Utility crews worked throughout the event to restore power to the 75% of SUB customers affected by the ice storm. Like neighboring utilities, SUB safely restored power within 11 days, despite unprecedented damage. In response to customer and stakeholder feedback, SUB developed several new tools to assist with outage communications, including 24/7 online outage reporting for major events; an interactive water system map that allows customers to obtain boil water notice information at the address level; and a new text alert system for emergency communication.
A Message to the Community
Springfield remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all community members. By reflecting on the experiences and lessons of the 2024 Ice Storm, Team Springfield is better prepared to meet future challenges and continue to build a resilient community. For more information on Springfield’s emergency preparedness efforts, visit Alerts – City of Springfield Oregon.
About the City of Springfield
The City of Springfield is dedicated to providing high-quality services for its community members, fostering a safe and vibrant city, and preserving its rich heritage. Through innovative initiatives and strong partnerships, Springfield strives to enhance the quality of life for everyone who calls it home.
About Willamalane Park and Recreation and Parks District
Willamalane Park and Recreation District maintains and operates five recreation facilities and 46 parks and natural areas totaling nearly 1,500 acres. Willamalane is a special tax district, separate from the city of Springfield, with its own boundaries. It is governed by a five-member, elected board of directors and managed by a district superintendent. We make it our mission to deliver exceptional parks and recreation to enrich the lives of everyone we serve.
About Springfield Utility Board
Founded in 1950, Springfield Utility Board is a community-owned utility dedicated to providing safe, reliable, cost-effective water and electric services to the residents and businesses of Springfield. SUB is a not-for-profit entity, chartered under the City of Springfield and guided by a five-member, independently elected Board of Directors. As a public utility, SUB is focused on providing excellent customer service and quality work at competitive rates.
About Springfield Public Schools
Springfield Public Schools has a shared vision of success and support, creating a system of schools that is welcoming, encouraging, and supportive of everyone. We understand the important role that public education plays in our community. We are committed to serving our families and delivering an experience that serves every student, every day.
