Pictured above: MCEM staff members take shelter under a table during the

2024 Great ShakeOut.

Multnomah County is participating in this years' Great ShakeOut! The Great ShakeOut started in 2008 in California as a way to engage communities in earthquake and emergency preparedness.  

Annually, on the third Thursday of October, people around the world practice Drop, Cover and Hold, which is the recommended response when you feel shaking. This year’s event is on Thursday, October 16th at 10:16am (in all local timezones) when more than 20 million people worldwide will practice this life saving technique!  

The Great ShakeOut is an opportunity for all organizations to exercise their preparedness skills. Signing up is easy and takes just a few minutes (shakeout.org/register). Your partners in emergency management have signed up and are excited to see how many other organizations will join us. Visit shakeout.org and explore how many people are participating in Oregon and around the world.

Pictured Above: Friends and peers of Jeff Washington at Blue Lake Park bond

over food, bikes and memories of Jeff.

On Saturday, October 20th, a picnic and group bicycle ride was hosted by MCEM staff members and friends of Jeff Washington in honor of his life.

Attendees gathered at Blue Lake Park at 10:30am, and started the group bike ride at 11am. After one hour, riders returned to the picnic area and shared space together over a potluck lunch. Among those in attendance, memories of Jeff Washington were shared in celebration of his life. Bonding over food, riding bikes, and even flying kites, friends and peers of Jeff spent time in community with one another, creating new memories among those who loved and cared for him.

Upcoming Events

You can view upcoming training opportunities through the following events calendars: Multnomah County, the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization (subscribe option), the State of Oregon (subscribe option), and the State of Washington.

Training Offerings

October 6: Preliminary Damage Assessment Guide Process

• Host: Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Time: 9:00am-10:00am PST
• Location: Virtual (FEMA Zoom link) 
• Meeting ID: 161 5791 3048
• Passcode: 2025
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: N/A
• Learn More

October 13-17: L0101: Foundations of Emergency Management

• Host: Oregon Department of Emergency Management
• Time: 8:00am-5:00pm PST
• Location: 3930 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem, OR 97302
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

October 15-16: ICS 400: Advanced Incident Command System for Complex Incidents

• Host: Cowlitz County Emergency Management and Cowlitz County Sheriff
• Time: 8:15am-5:00pm PST (Day 1) and 8:15am-5pm (Day 2)
• Location: Cowlitz County Emergency Operations Center (Basement of the Hall of Justice) 312 SW 1st Avenue Kelso, WA 98626
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: ICS 300 and ICS 800
• Registration: Email hembreeL@cowlitzwa.gov
• Learn More

October 17: Severe Weather Shelter/Disaster Resource Center Info Session

• Host: Multnomah County Department of County Human Services
• Time: 9:00am-9:45am PST
• Location: Virtual (Google Meet Link)
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: N/A
• Learn More

October 17: Severe Weather Shelter/Disaster Resource Center Training

• Host: Multnomah County Department of County Human Services
• Time: 10:00am-12:00pm PST
• Location: Virtual
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

October 20-22: L0105: Public Information Basics

• Host: Oregon Department of Emergency Management
• Time: 8:00am-5:00pm PST
• Location: 3930 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem, OR 97302
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

October 22: Trauma-informed Disaster Resource Centers Training

• Host: Multnomah County Department of County Human Services
• Time: 10:00am-12:00pm PST
• Location: Virtual
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

October 28-30: G2306: Emergency Operations Center Resource Support Skillsets

• Host: Oregon Department of Emergency Management
• Time: 8:00am-5:00pm PST
• Location: 3930 Fairview Industrial Dr SE, Salem, OR 97302
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

November 11: Severe Weather Shelter/Disaster Resource Center Info Session

• Host: Multnomah County Department of County Human Services
• Time: 1:00pm-1:45pm PST
• Location: Virtual (Google Meet Link)
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: N/A
• Learn More

November 13: Trauma-informed Disaster Resource Centers Training

• Host: Multnomah County Department of County Human Services
• Time: 10:00am-12:00pm PST
• Location: Virtual
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

November 14: Severe Weather Shelter/Disaster Resource Center Training

• Host: Multnomah County Department of County Human Services
• Time: 9:00am-11:00am PST
• Location: Virtual
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More