What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore the role of the Extension Office in addressing community needs during a crisis in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

May 28, 2026

Extension's Role in Responding to Community Crisis: Lessons from Klamath Falls, Oregon

Key Points

To explore the role of the Extension Office in addressing community needs during a crisis in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
Organized three countywide meetings to identify community needs and strategies for action.
Facilitated discussions among over 1200 families affected by irrigation water elimination.
Gathered lessons learned from the crisis response efforts.
Identified significant community needs beyond existing program goals.
Developed effective strategies to assist families impacted by the crisis.
Revealed key lessons on the importance of proactive community engagement during crises.

Abstract

Extension has a long history of support for communities, primarily through programs such as agriculture and 4-H. When an entire community faces a crisis, however, the needs of the community can expand beyond the goals of a specific program. In the summer of 2001, Klamath Falls, Oregon experienced a crisis when a federal decision eliminated irrigation water to over 1200 families farming more than 220,000 acres. The Klamath County Extension Office recognized the role they could play and organized and facilitated three countywide meetings to identify needs and strategies for action. The actions that evolved from the meetings were substantial, and the Extension office learned several key lessons about responding to crisis.

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