Disaster Response Readiness Training and Exercise

Public Agencies and other Disaster Response Community Partners

Multnomah County Office of Emergency Management (MCEM) coordinates training and exercise opportunities designed to increase disaster resilience and response readiness across the County in preparation for potential emergency situations. Training and exercise opportunities bring together local, state, and Federal governments, public safety/first responders, non-profit and volunteer organizations, and the private sector. By validating emergency plans and procedures, stakeholders are able to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Training and exercise opportunities based on identified gaps prepare personnel to respond effectively to and recover quickly from real world incidents.

County FY'22-FY'24 Emergency Management Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP)

Community Disaster Response Readiness

Please submit any community presentation or emergency preparedness supply requests through the "Emergency Management Presentations and Materials Request Form" (this form can also be found on the side bar).

Multnomah County Office of Emergency Management (MCEM) will work with you to help determine what kind of presentation, class, and/or training works best for you. MCEM works with many partners to help host and/or coordinate life saving trainings. The list below has been created to help provide you with an idea of the kinds of trainings that can be provided. MCEM and our partner agencies and organizations can also tailor trainings to meet the needs of the requestor and communities we serve. (Trainings can be: In-Person, Virtual, or Hybrid)

  • Active Shooter - Acts of Violence (preparedness, response, and recovery) 
  • After Action Process - Standard Operating Procedures, templates, Improvement Plan, and updates
  • Alert and Warning
    • Community Emergency Notification Systems: Wireless Emergency Alerts, PublicAlerts.org
    • Basic Earthquake Emergency Communications Nodes (BEECN) 
    • Community Emergency Notification System (Everbridge): messaging best practices, updates, scope, purpose, how to respond, opportunities for use (cities and county departments)
  • Amateur Radio
  • Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake: how to determine local potential impacts, information resources, plans, community engagement opportunities
  • Critical Incident Stress Management - Peer Counseling
  • Continuity of Operations (COOP) for Community Businesses and Organizations: Goals and objectives of businesses and organizations for their work during and after a disaster, and how to keep operations going during and after disruption
  • County Disaster Resource Center (DRC) Training. See MCEM Training Calendar for upcoming classes, or request to work with someone co-create a class for your organization.
  • Developing disaster/emergency: priorities, strategies, objectives, and tactics
  • Disaster sanitation: what to do with pee and poo
  • Emergency Operations Center Positions 
  • Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Deployment Basics 
  • Emergency and Disaster Declaration Process
  • Home fires: prevention, response (fire extinguisher training), and recovery support resources
  • Hot and Cold weather: preparedness, signs and symptoms recognition, safety net resources, opportunities for community based organizations to become more engaged, and more.
  • How to design and implement an effective Disaster/Emergency Exercise
  • Incident Action Plan and Incident Command System (ICS) Form
  • PLANNING, avail training, the EOC, COOP - opportunities - warming/cooling, drivers)
  • Psychological First Aid (emotional first aid)
  • Wildfire: hazards, evacuations, mitigation
  • MCEM works in partnership with the city of Portland and other agencies to support Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) / Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) trainings. CERT Training Curriculum content:
    • Unit Topics 1: Community Preparedness: Roles and Responsibilities • Hazards and Their Potential Impact • Home and Workplace Preparedness • Reducing the Impact of Hazards Through Mitigation • CERT Disaster Response • Additional Training for CERT Volunteers
    • Unit 2: CERT Organization • CERT Mobilization • Documentation 
    • Unit 3: Disaster Medical Operations, Part 1 - Treating Life Threatening Conditions • Basic First Aid Care • Disaster Medical Operations
    • Unit 4: Disaster Medical Operations, Part 2 - Mass Casualty Incidents • Functions of Disaster Medical Operations • Establishing Medical Treatment Areas • Conducting Head-to-Toe Assessments • Public Health Considerations 
    • Unit 5: Disaster Psychology - Disaster Reactions • Self-Care and Team Well-Being • Working with Survivors’ Emotional Responses • 
    • Unit 6: Fire Safety and Utility Controls - Fire Chemistry • Fire Size-up Considerations • Firefighting Resources • Fire Suppression Safety • Fire and Utility Hazards • Hazardous Materials
    • Unit 7: Light Search and Rescue Operations • Unit Overview • Safety During Search and Rescue Operations • Conducting Interior and Exterior Search Operations • Conducting Rescue Operations • 
    • Unit 8: CERT and Terrorism - Terrorist Goals and Tactics • Preparing Your Community • Active Shooter Situations • Until Help Arrives • Hazmat and CBRNE 
    • Unit 9: Course Review, Final Exam, and Disaster Simulation • Exercise Critique and Summary

Disaster Resource Center (DRC)/Shelter Training Resources

External Training Resources 

    • Emergency Management Institute On-Campus & Independent Study Training.
      MCEM can arrange for the online courses below to be instructed in person (contact alice.busch@multco.us / 971-563-3051 to schedule):
      • 100: Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS)
      • 200: Incident Command System (ICS) for Single Resources & Initial Action Incidents
      • 700: Introduction to the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
      • 800: Introduction to the National Response Framework (NRF)
      • 2200: Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions

    MCEM Training Calendar

    Exercise Opportunity Information, Resources, & Assistance Needs

    The Office of Emergency Management regularly hosts exercise events with community partners to test the effectiveness of written plans and/or procedures, build awareness of written plans and/or procedures, and build relationship with partners. Upcoming exercise events can be found on the Emergency Management Events Calendar.

    Need Assistance with Exercises? The MCEM is available to provide exercise development and facilitation assistance to county departments/divisions, private industry organizations, and non-profit organizations - reach out to the Training & Exercise Specialist for additional information. Additional exercise information, documentation, and guidance can be found below:

    Long-Term Care Resilience Exercise Guide

    In November 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its Long-Term Community Resilience Exercise Resource Guide: Designing Whole Community Exercises to Prepare for the Effects of a Changing Climate. The Guide equips users with:

    • A dictionary with common terms to ensure a shared understanding of climate-related terminology and principles before an exercise.
    • Tools and templates for planning and conducting climate-focused exercises.
    • Resources including funding opportunities, risk assessments and training programs.