Multnomah County Emergency Management Monthly Newsletter
September 2021
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 by the 20th of each month.

For COVID-19 information and updates, visit Multnomah County's COVID-19 website.
Wildfire Smoke addition to the CWPP

Smoke as a hazard of its own
As noted in a previous newsletter edition, MCEM's Planning Division has been working this year to update the Multnomah County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). Following the historic smoke event that Oregon experienced last year, the update to the CWPP will include a new section focused on Wildfire Smoke. The section will analyze smoke as a hazard on its own, and suggests mitigation actions for its effects. Currently, we have convened a Wildfire Smoke Subcommittee which includes stakeholders of Multnomah County, City of Portland, Home Forward, the Joint Office of Homeless Services, and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. This subcommittee’s main goal is to ensure that we have adequate representation of community members who are most at risk of being impacted by Wildfire Smoke.

Public engagement strategy
At this time in the planning process, the county will be implementing its public engagement strategy. All are welcome to participate by filling out this survey. The survey is brief and will be available in multiple languages in the coming weeks. In addition to our survey, we will be reaching out to local Community Based Organizations to conduct a comprehensive interview with our partners to fully integrate and represent our community’s needs in our plan. For more information about this effort, please contact Arini Farrell, arini.farrell@multco.us.
Three people sitting, including Marvin Peña, who is interpreting. All are wearing masks.
Interview of the Month: Marvin Peña

Marvin Peña has worked in community outreach since 2018 and is currently working as a Community Outreach Specialist for Multnomah County, particularly focusing on migrant worker communities and COVID-19. Marvin answers questions about his work, addresses why it’s important to engage with underserved communities, and offers some community outreach best practices.

In the photo, Marvin is interpreting at a vaccination event at Voz, a nonprofit that works with migrant workers providing resources and support. 
RDPO Community Resilience Project Funding Opportunity

The Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization (RDPO) has launched its Community Resilience Project, a funding opportunity to award at least four grants up to $25,000 each to community-based organizations in the five-county Portland Metropolitan Region (Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah and Washington Counties in OR and Clark County in WA).

The project aims to enhance the capacity of community-based organizations as critical partners before, during, and after disasters. It is funded with $100,000 in RDPO locally-contributed partner funds.

Information-sharing and technical assistance sessions are scheduled on September 7th, 13th, and 16th. Applications are due September 21st. More info can be found on the RDPO website.
Trauma Intervention Program Training Academy
Want to help support others after a crisis? Consider becoming a TIP volunteer!

The Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) is a group of specially trained citizen volunteers who provide emotional aid and practical support and resources to victims of traumatic events and their families in the first few hours following a tragedy.

TIP Volunteers are called by the emergency response system (police officers, firefighters, paramedics, hospital personnel and medical examiners) to assist family members and friends following a natural or unexpected accident or death.

The next TIP Training Academy begins September 15th. View the training flyer or visit the TIP website for more information.
Upcoming Training & Exercises Events

Please review the upcoming training opportunities for August through the following events calendars: Multnomah County, the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization, the State of Oregon, and the State of Washington.

Below are some events we would like to highlight:
  • Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) virtual course. Sept 8-9, 2021. Course flyer.
  • TIP Training Academy (highlighted above), begins Sept. 15.
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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