Multnomah County Emergency Management Monthly Newsletter
November 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.
Cascadia 2022 Exercise Update
Multnomah County hosted our Initial Planning Meeting (IPM) for the upcoming Cascadia 2022 National Level Exercise on October 19th. This meeting shared the County exercise objectives and expected operational elements, and requested tentative focus areas from local partners anticipating playing. Review the following documentation for updated exercise information:
MCEM Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP)

Multnomah County has updated our multi-year Training and Exercise Plan (TEP) to reflect changes made to the FEMA Homeland Security and Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP). Now titled an Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP), this document better integrates emergency plan development and management as a component of ongoing training and exercise efforts. This IPP addresses MCEM plans, training, and exercises over the next 3 years, and will be reviewed on an annual basis through collaborative workshops with county-wide partners (Spring 2022).

To view the updated Plan, please visit the MCEM Training and Exercise webpage.
November is Infrastructure Awareness Month

Infrastructure Security Month 2021 will focus on the umbrella theme “Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience: Build it In” as a reminder for how important it is to consider infrastructure security and resilience from design concept all the way through development and implementation. 

Each week throughout November, CISA will spotlight a different way to think about how the nation can build critical infrastructure security and resilience.

  • Week 1 (November 1-7): Interconnected and Interdependent Critical Infrastructure: Shared risk means building in shared responsibility.
  • Week 2 (November 8-14): Plan for Soft Target Security: Build in security for mass gatherings starting with your planning.
  • Week 3 (November 15-21): Build Resilience into Critical Infrastructure
  • Week 4 (November 22-30): Secure our Elections: Build resilience into our democratic processes.
A picture of Gail Zuro, Logistics Manager
MCEM's New Logistics Division Manager

MCEM is thrilled to announce Gail Zuro as Manager of our Logistics Division!
 
Before coming to the County, Gail had 15 years of experience with a high tech company in Hillsboro serving as Senior Program Manager (including Environmental Compliance and Reverse Logistics) and Director of Customer Service. She hails from the Midwest, growing up outside Chicago and graduating from the University of Wisconsin, and is a lifelong Cubs fan. Gail is looking forward to the fun and challenges of building a new team.
 
The Logistics Division will continue to focus on COVID related support such as PPE distribution to the community, support of the County's vaccination clinics and testing sites and JOHS outreach that has significantly ramped up during COVID. They will also continue to purchase, inventory, store and distribute severe weather supplies for winter and summer activations, operating out of a new warehouse located on NE Halsey.
 
Gail can be reached at gail.zuro@multco.us.
MCDD Fall Flood Campaign

To raise awareness about the levees and flood risk in our region, the Multnomah County Drainage District (MCDD) and FEMA Region X invited people to share their stories about living, working, and recreating in the area protected by the levees. The result is Life Along the Columbia: Stories from Behind the Levees (English) or Historias De La Vida A Lo Largo Del Río Columbia (Spanish). The hope with these stories is for the community to better understand the watershed and its many benefits, while also illuminating the flood risk that remains and the work that MCDD is doing to prepare for future floods.
 
Through this campaign, MCDD is incentivizing people to sign-up for their newsletter by 11/24 to be entered to win an emergency kit. Click on the links above to learn more or watch and share the videos on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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:
  • Training(s)
  • TriMet is offering ICS-300 & 400 this month.
  • ICS-300 (11/11 - 11/14/21)
  • ICS-400 (11/14/21)
  • Exercise(s)
  • Quarterly MCEM Radio Drill (12.07.21, 1000-1030).
  • Regional Workshop Series on Transportation Resilience and Recovery
  • 11.02.21 - Transportation & Emergency Response
  • 12.08.21 - Regional Transportation Resilience Investment & Plans
  • January 2021 - Transportation Recovery Planning Best Practices
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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