Pictured Left: A guest and their cat rest at a cooling center. Photo by Multnomah County Communications.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an Excessive Heating Warning for Multnomah County beginning July 5th and lasting through July 9th. With a major heat risk to Multnomah County coming, a state of emergency was declared and emergency responders launched their efforts.

Four daytime emergency cooling centers were opened for the duration of the emergency activation. A cumulative total of 648 guests were served during the event, with daily high of 201 served on July 9th. Other cooling spaces that were listed on the County's interactive map, such as libraries, splash pads and recreational centers functioned as additional respite from the heat. In fact, two library locations opened for extended hours to ensure as many people had access to cooling spaces as possible.

Among the work Logistics section accomplished over the heat event was ensuring cooling centers stayed cool. In particular, they ensured Cook Plaza and Market Street stayed at a cool temperature when HVAC issues occurred at both.

Several responders also took on new activities during this activation. Passenger Transportation Unit took on new resource distribution tasks during this activation, ensuring folks staying outside in the heat had access to water bottles and cooling towels. Similarly, the County's Health Department deployed their mobile medical unit van to various cooling center locations, assisting people in getting necessary medical attention.

For any heat-related information, all are encouraged to visit Multnomah County's Help for When It's Hot page for resources.

Pictured Below: Logistics staff Gideon Parque (Left) and Blakely Esco (Right) deliver supplies to a cooling center. Photo by Multnomah County Communications.

Back by popular demand. Register here before the course reaches capacity!

Get the training to make a difference. The County is offering a free, in-person FEMA "G-2300 Intermediate Emergency Operations Center Functions" course on September 16-19, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Multnomah Building EOC.

The County's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is a centralized hub that coordinates responses to natural or man-made emergency incidents. County staff familiar with the EOC structure play a critical role in ensuring our organization can respond effectively to emergencies. This comprehensive course covers how EOCs prepare for, operate during, and deactivate after disaster events. Participants will examine the role, design, and function of the EOC, and how it supports and coordinates incident management and response within the National Incident Management System framework as part of multi-agency coordination.

Here's what your colleagues are saying about the course:

"I left this course with a working knowledge of EOCs. Now I'm able to understand and recognize the language used in county communications during activities. I am better able to align my behaviors and actions to the NIMS process. This will make facilitating the objectives set in the EOC easier to accomplish." – Logistics Division Lead, Kirsten Kuppenbender.  

This course is open to all County employees, regional partners, and others willing to serve in various roles coordinating emergency response. We welcome a diverse range of participants to engage in this important training.

Be a part of the solution before the next major event by Register Here.

Prerequisites for this course: Independent online study IS-100, IS-700, IS-800, IS-2200.

Prepare Your Organization with Professional Education

Communicating with the media and the public is a vital function during an emergency. The Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM), in partnership with Multnomah County, is offering a free FEMA L0105 Basic PIO (Public Information Officer) course on September 23-26 from 8am-4pm.

Students who completed the course in September appreciated the networking opportunities and the chance to set up a Joint Information Center in a simulated press conference/classroom setting while practicing their media interview skills with real-time feedback from knowledgeable instructors. 

These four full days of training will build crisis communication skills to provide life-saving information and maintain public confidence through various platforms. Learn how to work with the media, hone your interview skills, and use basic tools and techniques to perform effectively as a PIO, both proactively and during crisis/emergency response. The course reached maximum capacity in its last offering, so don't miss out this time. Register here today!

Prerequisite: IS-29: Public Information Officer Awareness

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

August 7-9: G0300: ICS-300 - Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents

• Host: Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue
• Time: 8am-5pm
• Location: DPSST 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, OR 97317
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800
• Registration: Register Here

August 14: Be 2 Weeks Ready Program Coordinator Training

• Host: Oregon Department of Emergency Management
• Time: 8am-12:30pm 
• Location: Online
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: None
• Registration: Register Here

August 20-21: G0400: ICS 400 - Advanced Incident Command System for Complex Incidents

• Host: Portland Bureau of Emergency Management
• Time: 8am-5pm
• Location: 9911 SE Bush Street, Portland, OR 97266
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800, ICS-300
• Registration: Register Here

August 20-21: G0400: ICS 400 - Advanced Incident Command System for Complex Incidents

• Host: Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue
• Time: 8am-5pm
• Location: DPSST 4190 Aumsville Hwy SE, Salem, OR 97317
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800, ICS-300
• Registration:  Register Here

August 20-22: G0300: ICS-300 - Intermediate Incident Command System for Expanding Incidents

• Host: Marion County Emergency Management
• Time: 8am-5pm
• Location: Marion County EOC 5155 Silverton Road NE, Salem, OR 97305
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800
• Registration:  Register Here

August 26-30: K0490 Voluntary Agency Coordination in Disasters

• Host: FEMA
• Time: 8am-2pm (PT)
• Location: Virtual
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-0289: Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL)
• Registration: Flyer Here

Sept 16-19: G-2300 Intermediate Emergency Operations Center Functions

• Host: Multnomah County Emergency Management 
• Time: 9am-4:30pm
• Location: 501 SE Hawthorne St, Portland 97214 
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-700, IS-800, IS-2200
• Registration: Register Here

Sept 23-26: L-0105 PIO Basics 

• Host: Multnomah County Emergency Management and Portland Bureau of Emergency Management 
• Time: 8am-4pm 
• Location: Portland EOC, 9911 SE Bush Street, Portland, OR 97266
• Cost: Free 
• Prerequisites: IS-29 
• Registration: Register Here

 September 24-26: ICS-300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents

• Host: Cowlitz County - Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
• Time: 8:15am-5pm
• Location: Cowlitz County - Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 312 SW 1st Ave. Kelso, WA 98626
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800
• Registration: Email hembreeL@cowlitzwa.gov
• 
  

September 25-26: MGT-343: Disaster Management for Water and Wastewater Utilities

•  Host: TEEX
• Time:  8am-5pm 
• Location:  Eugene Oregon Fire Station 2,  1705 W 2nd Ave, Eugene, OR 97402
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: None. Recommended: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800
• Registration: Register Here

October 8-9: ICS-400 Advanced ICS for Command and General Staff

• Host: Cowlitz County - Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
• Time: 8:15am-5pm
• Location: Cowlitz County - Emergency Operations Center (EOC) 312 SW 1st Ave. Kelso, WA 98626
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800, ICS-300
• Registration: Email hembreeL@cowlitzwa.gov

Oct 21-25: MGT-323 Instructor Development Workshop (Virtual)

• Host: Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management
• Time: 8am-12pm 
• Location: Online 
• Cost: Free
• Prerequisites: The NCBRT recommends that participants have prior instructional and training experience and knowledge of instructional methodology.
• Registration: Register Here