Multnomah County Emergency Management Monthly Newsletter
May 2024
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Multnomah County Office of Emergency Management (MCEM) compiles this monthly email to provide information related to emergency management activities. If you have content for this newsletter, please submit to calvin.hoff@multco.us.
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90 Day Fentanyl Emergency Incident Management Team Concludes;
Long-Term Work Begins
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Pictured Above: County, State, and City incident commanders at February 29, 2024, Fentanyl State of Emergency press conference.
Photo by Motoya Nakamura/Multnomah County Communications.
The tri-government, multi-agency Incident Management Team (IMT) for the 90-Day Fentanyl Emergency Activation wrapped up its work on April 29 with the publishing of its report on the response that focused on Portland's city center neighborhoods and recommended actions to address the impacts of the fentanyl crisis across Multnomah county.
The IMT began bridging the gaps to connect individuals affected by fentanyl and suffering from substance use disorder and homelessness with services that they might not have known existed. It was charged with refocusing existing resources and identifying any specific resources necessary to address gaps. It publicly reported data on the impacts of fentanyl in the downtown area and used data to identify and respond to acute needs and gaps in service and it also initiated work on a coordination mechanism that can be sustained beyond the 90-day startup period and be modeled in other areas.
One of the outputs of the emergency response is a set of prioritized actions and next steps to address the burden of fentanyl use and abuse in the Portland city center. These proposals reflect the inputs of dozens of community partners and IMT members with lived and professional expertise through the discussions, meetings, listening sessions, coordination calls, and collaboration between the region's best subject matter experts and community partners. They include developing a triage site or receiving center that accepts referrals from outreach workers and law enforcement, developing a real-time addiction treatment bed-tracking system, adding mobile clinics in key neighborhoods that offer medication-assisted treatment for addiction, and assuring that a range of recovery housing options exist to support individuals in different stages of recovery.
Efforts will continue to staff key public services during evenings and weekends as much as possible, to saturate high-risk areas and groups with naloxone, and to facilitate regular meetings between first responders, service providers, related programs and partners.
The IMT staff worked tirelessly to approach each objective of the response with integrity and a commitment to serve those who have been impacted by fentanyl use and the public at large. People who have never worked together began collaborating and sharing ideas to address an unprecedented emergency declaration that has few precedents or existing frameworks to address the many variables at play during a drug-related response.
The IMT faced many challenges, many of which were successfully addressed throughout the duration of the response. How to address logistics, data, personnel, requests, and coordination across multiple government jurisdictions, service providers, and other community partners, while thoughtfully crafting multiple approaches for every fentanyl-related issue in Portland was meticulously questioned, discussed, and carried out by different sections of the IMT.
This was an incredible task to execute in three months, and an enormous amount of time, thought, empathy, consideration, and planning went into the work accomplished by a dedicated staff. The projects and recommendations presented have been scrutinized, discussed, conceptualized, and implemented to the degree appropriate for 90-days with the utmost importance being placed upon equity considerations, safety, and feasibility for our communities. Although the outcomes are imperfect, and there is still work to be done, we must start making strides, and this is a great leap.
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Public Assistance Declaration DR 4768 for January Severe Winter Weather Storm |
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Pictured Right: Emergency shelter operations during the January 2024 severe winter weather. Photo by Motoya Nakamura/Multnomah County Communications.
On April 13, President Biden issued a Public Assistance program declaration for the severe winter weather that affected parts of Oregon, including Multnomah county, between January 10 and 22 this year. This declaration provides Federal financial assistance on a cost-sharing basis (at least 75% of eligible costs) for emergency work and the repair or replacement of public facilities damaged by the storm.
Eligible applicants include local governments, tribal governments, special districts, state agencies, and certain private nonprofits that have incurred cost for response activities or have sustained facility damage as a direct result of the storm.
Private nonprofits must own or operate a facility that provides an eligible service and have a 501(c), (d), or (e) tax exemption status. Certain private nonprofits that have damage to their facilities must first apply to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a disaster loan. There are important deadlines to apply for an SBA disaster loan so they should see SBA Announcement No 20270-01. Private nonprofits who are interested in applying for Federal financial assistance should also refer to the FEMA Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, pages 43-46, for more information.
Applicants must first register their organization for Public Assistance in the FEMA Grants Portal by May 13. If the organization has never registered before, their registration must first be approved by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management before they can submit a Request for Public Assistance for DR4768. The May 13 deadline is just to register the organization in the FEMA Grants Portal; it is not the deadline for submitting a Request for Public Assistance. Organizations unable to access the grants portal to submit a request or to create a new account should email oem.pa-recovery@oem.oregon.gov with questions or to request technical assistance.
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Multnomah County Emergency Management Welcomes Recommendations for Severe Weather Shelter Sites |
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Pictured Right: A welcome sign directs guests to a building entrance.
The Multnomah County Emergency Management (MCEM) Logistics team is reaching out to community-based organizations and other local service groups to identify potential severe weather shelter locations. These sites offer life-saving services to our most vulnerable community members during severe weather events such as heatwaves, wildfire smoke events, ice and snow, extreme cold, and more.
If you or someone you know is interested in partnering with Multnomah County to provide a space for severe weather sheltering, please fill out our interest form or submit a recommendation here.
Read on to find our preferred criteria and requirements to be eligible for the severe weather shelter incentive program:
- ADA accessible or can be made so without structural alterations
- Utilities (water, electric, HVAC) are on and do not require service
- AC for cooling center is required
- Heat for warming shelter is required
- 4,000+ square feet open space preferred
- 3+ toilets, with access to ADA restrooms preferred
Multnomah County has developed an incentive program to provide compensation to facility owners to promote sustainable partnerships and provide benefits to the community. Please contact (503) 988-5952 or email us at eoc.facilitiesunit@multco.us to learn more.
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Logistics Cadre Seeking New Members |
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Pictured Above: The Logistics warehouse.
The Logistics Division of Emergency Management is a strong team who is always looking for help during severe weather activations and other emergencies. The Logistics Cadre is a group of community volunteers and city and county employees who have signed up to help during such events. We have a couple of virtual meetings a year, including in preparation for another severe weather season. At these meetings, the team discusses available positions such as drivers, material handlers, facility inspectors, food units, resource request units and other office assistant-type roles. Notifications are also sent to Cadre members when severe weather is coming to remind the Cadre of the steps they can take to be prepared to step in to help us help the community.
Our next meeting will be Wednesday, May 15th at 1:30pm. If you are interested in the Cadre, please email eoc.logisticschief@multco.us for more information and to be added to the meeting invite.
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Wildfire Preparedness Weekend |
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Pictured Left: MCEM's Lydia Ledgerwood-Eberlein (Left) and Gail Zuro (Right)
at the departmental information table on Sunday, April 28.
Multnomah County Emergency Management staffed a table at Wildfire Preparedness Weekend held at the World Forestry Center in Portland on April 27th and 28th. Staff joined partners from across the region to talk with museum visitors about wildfire risk and mitigation and general preparedness, including the importance of signing up for Public Alerts.
The event was organized by the Oregon State Fire Marshal, Portland Fire and Rescue, and the World Forestry Center.
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Upcoming Events
Training Offerings
May 9: Disability Access and Functional Needs Inclusion
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Host: Oregon Health Authority
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Time: 8am-12pm
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Location: Online
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: Free
- Register Here
May 9-11: G428 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Train-the-Trainer
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Host: Multnomah County
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Time: 8am-5pm
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Location: University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd, Portland OR 97203
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: Completion of the basic CERT 20 hour course including final drill, IS 100, Is 200 and IS 700
- Registration Flyer
May 16: AWR 232: Mass Fatalities Planning & Response for Rural Communities
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Host: Clackamas County Disaster Management
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Time: 8am-5pm
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Location: 150 Beavercreek Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: None
- Registration Flyer
May 18: AWR 328: All Hazards Preparedness for Animals in Disasters
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Host: Rural Department Preparedness Consortium (RDPC)
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Time: 8am-5pm
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Location: Online
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: IS 100.C, IS 200.C and IS 700.C
- Register Here
May 21-22: MGT461: Evacuation Planning Strategies and Solutions
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Host: Oregon Department of Emergency Management
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Time: 12:30pm-4:30pm
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Location: Virtual
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: None
- Registration Flyer
May 23: Community Sheltering During Disasters
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Host: Oregon Health Authority (OHA)
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Time: 8am-12pm
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Location: Online
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: None
- Register Here
May 30: Fundamentals of Mass Fatality Management
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Host: Oregon Health Authority (OHA)
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Time: 8am-12pm
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Location: Online
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: None
- Register Here
June 1: AWR 328 All Hazards Preparedness for Animals in Disasters
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Host: Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC)
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Time: 8am-5pm
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Location: Online
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: IS 100.C, IS 200.C and IS 700.C
- Register Here
June 2: MGT 448 All Hazards Planning for Animal, Agricultural and Food Related Disasters
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Host: Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC)
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Time: 8am-5pm
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Location: Online
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: Required: ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 700 and ICS 800. Recommended: RDPC AWR 328, AWR 117, MGMT 117, MGMT 383 and IS 2901
- Register Here
June 10-13: PER-256 Comprehensive Cybersecurity Defense (CCD)
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Host: Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) at the University of Arkansas
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Time: 8am-5pm
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Location: Online
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Cost: Free
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Prerequisites: Two years experience as a system or network administrator, or as an IT security specialist.
- Register Here
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Have something you'd like to include in one of our future newsletters? We'd love to hear from you! To have your upcoming trainings, exercises, events, or other announcements added, please email calvin.hoff@multco.us.
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