Pictured Above: MCEM staff members standing on the Broadway Bridge.

On Wednesday, September 30th, MCEM staff gathered at the Multnomah County Bridge Shop for a tour of three County bridges: Broadway Bridge, Hawthorne Bridge and Morrison Bridge. The tour was hosted by the Bridge Shop, a part of the Transportation Division of the Department of Community Services. Over the course of the tour, staff received insight into bridge operations.

Bridge Shop staff also shared how severe weather impacts their work. For example, when snowfall reached 3 inches or more, Multnomah County bridge lifts are unable to lift. Similarly, the bridge lifts are not able to operate when wind speeds are at 25mph or above for prolonged periods.

Bridge operators must also be mindful of how Multnomah County residents and travelers use the bridge when conducting operations. When lifts occur, operators spend a great deal of energy to ensure pedestrians are clear of the lift area. Similarly, when non-Multnomah County staff find themselves in areas strictly for authorized staff, a sound system setup at the bridge is able to broadcast messages to encourage them to leave areas for staff only.

To contact the County Bridge Shop, visit their website for more information.

Every year, people around the world participate in the Great Shakeout, an opportunity to raise awareness of earthquake safety and to practice drop, cover, and hold on. On October 15, 2026, at 10:15AM, wherever you are, you are encouraged to stop what you are doing and practice earthquake safety.  

By participating in the ShakeOut, you’re not just practicing safety drills; you’re fostering a culture of preparedness that can save lives and strengthen community resilience. You can sign your team up online to be counted among the people practicing earthquake safety worldwide.

Have questions about the Great Shakeout? Visit the State of Oregon's website for more information.

Pictured Right: MCEM Training and

Exercise Officer Jim Merten

By Jim Merten, Training & Exercise Officer

Whether responding to severe winter weather, summer heat waves, or operational contingencies like our recent Operation Secure Pivot exercise, Multnomah County relies on a coordinated team effort to protect lives and maintain vital services.

When a crisis strikes, you will often hear that the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated. But what does that mean, and how does the EOC support countywide operations?

Understanding the Incident Support Model (ISM)

Unlike traditional tactical field command structures that manage on-scene emergency responders, our EOC operates using the Incident Support Model (ISM). The ISM structure focuses entirely on executive support, strategy, and logistics through four core sections:

• Situational Awareness: Gathers, analyzes, and displays real-time incident data to maintain a clear operational picture across the County.
• Planning Support: Coordinates strategic planning, develops operational action plans, and anticipates upcoming emergency shifts.
• Resource Support: Tracks, sources, and distributes essential equipment, facilities, supplies, and personnel.
• Center Support: Keeps the physical and virtual EOC running smoothly managing IT connectivity, facility needs, administrative tracking, and operational security.

Staffing these four ISM sections relies heavily on everyday administrative, finance, IT, and communication skills from employees across all County departments.

3 Steps to Get Ready Today

1. Start working on your State Qualification Package and get sign-offs: Download the EOC Position Checklist for your role and track your completed tasks. Your daily job duties count toward these qualifications!
2. Take FEMA IS courses for EOC activation: Complete foundational online courses (like IS- 2200, IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800) through the FEMA Emergency Management Institute.
3. Check in with Your Supervisor: Discuss your unit’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) and ask how your team supports County activations.

Get Involved

MCEM regularly hosts exercises and training sessions to help County staff build operational readiness. The training Calendar can be found here: https://multco.us/info/emergency-management-events-calendar or reach out to the Training & Exercise officer directly: james.merten@multco.us 

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 13-14: MGT315 - Conducting Risk Assessments for Critical Community Assets

• Host: National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center
• Time: 8:00am-5:00pm PST
• Location: Oregon Department of Emergency Management, 3930 Fairview Industrial Way Salem, OR 97302
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: N/A
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

October 26-29: L0105 - Public Information Basics

• Host: Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, City of Gresham and Hillsboro Fire & Rescue
• Time: 8:00am-5:00pm PST
• Location: Portland Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 9911 SE Bush Street, Portland, OR 97266
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

October 28: Disaster Resource Center Info Session

• Host: Multnomah County Department of County Human Services
• Time: 11:00am-11:45am PST
• Location: Virtual (Google Meet Link)
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: None
• Learn More

October 28: Disaster Resource Center Staff Roles Training

• Host: Multnomah County Department of County Human Services
• Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm PST
• Location: Virtual
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

November 16-17: Continuity of Operations Program Management Course

• Host: Oregon Department of Emergency Management
• Time: 8:00am-5:00pm PST
• Location: Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center, 3800 SW Airport Way, Redmond, OR 97756
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-1300.a, ELK1301
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

December 14: G0191: Emergency Operations Center/Incident Command System Interface

• Host: Oregon Department of Emergency Management
• Time: 8:00am-5:00pm PST
• Location: Virtual
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-200 OR IS-2200, IS-700, IS-800
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More

December 15-17: G0288 - Local Volunteer and Donations Management

• Host: Oregon Department of Emergency Management
• Time: 8:00am-12:30pm PST
• Location: Virtual
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here
• Learn More