Multnomah County Emergency Management Monthly Newsletter
June 2022
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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 em.dutyofficer@multco.us.
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Continuity of Government Annex
Multnomah County in consultation with CONSTANT Associates, an emergency management consulting firm, has recently completed a Continuity of Government (COG) Annex to the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). This annex provides a flexible and scalable framework that can be employed by Multnomah County’s elected, appointed and executive officials to maintain, devolve and reconstitute governance within the first thirty (30) days after an emergency to support the delivery of essential services until the restoration of normal operations occurs.
The Continuity of Government project was funded by the Oregon State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), which is administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in partnership with Oregon Emergency Management (OEM). Oregon currently receives funding under two (2) Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) programs: the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). Together, these grants fund a range of activities designed to prepare for, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism or catastrophic events.
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Plan Maintenance and Activities
The Continuity of Government (COG) annex is a component of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) which is maintained annually and assessed in accordance with the metrics outlined in the Plan Review Process. With the addition of this annex, the Continuity of Operations (COO) Advisory Team will be expanded to include additional representation from County and Executive Leadership. The Advisory Team meets regularly with the Program Manager to develop new strategies and improvement plans for the ongoing maintenance of the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).
For more information on the Continuity of Government (COG) Annex or Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), please contact: justin.gibbs@multco.us.
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County EOC Logistics Cadre
The County EOC Logistics Team has a participant list of just under 150 County employees and volunteers that have supported during past exercise events and activations. MCEM started hosting Quarterly Cadre Meetings towards the end of 2021 to engage these participants through training, discussion, and more regular interaction.
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December 2021: The first meeting was to prepare the Section for upcoming Winter Weather and offer an overview of more routine MCEM Logistics projects and priorities. The notes for the meeting can be found here.
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May 2022: The Logistics Cadre met for the second time in preparation for Summer Weather to discuss EOC activations, the Logistics Section organizational structure, and section-specific training. The notes from the meeting can be found here.
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Next - July 2022: The cadre expects to next meet to tour the MCEM Logistics Warehouse and have a demonstration for the existing Resource Request Tool in July 2022.
Please reach out to the MCEM Logistics Section Manager Gail Zuro ( gail.zuro@multco.us) if you are interested in participating! |
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Tactical Communications Plan Update Kick-Off Meeting
MCEM is beginning the process of updating the 2013 Tactical Communications Plan. This Plan describes how Multnomah County will ensure communication capabilities and networks continue to operate based on different levels of communication disruptions. Find a copy of the 2013 Plan here.
This update process will begin with a Kick-Off Meeting on Wednesday, June 15th, from 10:00-12:00 virtually to:
- Review the 2013 Plan Content
- Provide an overview of the Update Planning Process
- Hear from the State of Oregon communications priorities, and
- Elicit Feedback to improve this process.
Interested in attending the Kick-Off Meeting? Reach out to the MCEM Training & Exercise Specialist, Robert Quinn ( robert.quinn@multco.us). |
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Disaster Relief Trials
Members from the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM), Portland’s Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) program, and Multnomah County will participate in the 10th anniversary edition of the Disaster Relief Trials Portland (DRT) this Saturday, June 11.
This year’s DRT takes place in the Cully neighborhood. It’s a disaster relief drill in the form of a cargo bike competition, simulating a day 4 supply run for neighbors in need. The Disaster Relief part of the DRT highlights the capabilities of cargo bicycles to support the NET program and the community-at-large in a post-disaster environment when roads may be damaged and supply chains disrupted. Neighborhood Emergency Teams are Portland residents trained by PBEM and Portland Fire & Rescue to provide emergency disaster assistance within their own neighborhoods.
The PBEM/NET/MultCo team will be showcasing PBEM’s newest addition to its permanent fleet: a 2022 Tern G00 E-Cargo bike capable of transporting up to 450 lbs. (cargo + rider). They will also be demonstrating proof-of-concept using bike cargo trailers to transport injured persons to care when ambulances or other motorized vehicles could not operate in a post-disaster environment.
“The Disaster Relief Trials highlights the ingenuity and capability of Portlanders to solve problems, and as the DRT has shown over its ten events, cargo bikes provide a great option for moving supplies over broken terrain, without using fuel, “ said Tigger Subotnick, PBEM’s Fleet Manager. “Our team, made up of partners from City and County emergency management, displays an ongoing commitment to collaborating towards increasing community resilience.”
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We're seeking a Master Exercise Practitioner!
MCEM is looking for a Master Exercise Practitioner to create and facilitate a tabletop exercise (TTX) using a Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake and Hazardous Materials scenario to address objectives related to: evacuation, sheltering, and alert and notification for the areas surrounding the Critical Infrastructure Energy Hub. The TTX will follow a draft evacuation report that will be completed by Portland State University’s Institute for Sustainable Solutions (ISS). This exercise has a tentative date of Oct 12, 2022 from 8 am-12 pm.
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Upcoming Training & Exercises Events
Trainings
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All-Hazards Logistics Section Chief (June 20-24): This course is intended for individuals that will be performing in the Logistics Section Lead role during an emergency response activation. Please email alice.busch@multco.us for registration.
Exercises
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Fuel Management Workshop & Tabletop (Summer 2022): See information above.
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Regional Fuel Management Tabletop (Fall 2022): This regional exercise hosted by the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization (RDPO) will test fuel management operations during a west hill fault earthquake event. Additional information will be shared when it becomes available. Reach out to Robert Quinn (robert.quinn@multco.us) for additional information.
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Damage Assessment Full-Scale Exercise (Fall/Winter 2022): See information above.
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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 em.dutyofficer@multco.us.
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