Oregon Emergency Coordination Center Activates To Level 3 In Response To Severe Winter Weather -02/13/25

New Statewide 9-1-1 Software Testing Lab Announced (Photo) -02/12/25

STAYTON, OR - Oregon's State 9-1-1 Program announced today the establishment of their new State 9-1-1 testing lab capabilities located in Stayton, Oregon. This lab will allow for the testing of new 9-1-1 system capabilities in a simulated environment before deploying them in a live setting. 

 

This project was developed in partnership with both METCOM 911 (Marion Area Multi-Agency Emergency Telecommunications) and Willamette Valley Communications Center (WVCC) Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) that serve Marion County.   

 

Previously, operators tested new 9-1-1 technology solutions by deploying them live in Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs). This approach introduced significant risk to Oregon PSAPs--potentially affecting service availability and compromising the evaluation process--and is generally not considered an industry best practice. 

 

"METCOM's partnership with ODEM and WVCC has paved a path toward the future of 9-1-1 in Oregon," MECOM Executive Director John Thompson, said. "Additionally, as new technologies in 9-1-1 continue to emerge, the space and newly installed equipment can be utilized in an environment and tested thoroughly without interrupting operations in other primary ECC's." 

 

The Stayton facility, where the test lab is located, serves Marion County as a backup center to ensure 9-1-1 call services will still be provided if the primary Willamette Valley Communications Center (WVCC) or METCOM PSAP goes down. Partnership with the State 9-1-1 Program enabled the use of the facility to be expanded to support enterprise technology pre-deployment 9-1-1 lab testing capabilities.  

 

"METCOM's back-up ECC has evolved from a mostly vacant building with a few radios and limited access to fully capable dispatch center," Thompson, said. "This center is not only a benefit to METCOM and WVCC but can provide the ability for ECC's from across the state to relocate and access the technology to continue providing call-taking services to their citizens, in the event of a disaster, center evacuation or other needs. 

 

The 9-1-1 test lab fully replicates the infrastructure necessary to support emergency calls from the public. The testing environment uses the same network and equipment currently used by primary PSAPs throughout the majority of the state Oregon. It also provides security access controls, facility monitoring, power management, staff facilities, and the delivery of automatic location information (ALI). 

 

"We are very excited for this new partnership with METCOM 9-1-1 and WVCC and the launch of the new testing lab capabilities within Oregon," Statewide 9-1-1 Manager Frank Kuchta, said. "Having access to a dedicated environment to confidently test and validate emerging public safety technologies while ensuring risk is reduced as we undertake significant modernization of the statewide 9-1-1 emergency communications system is invaluable." 

 

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It is the mission of Oregon Emergency Management to proactively develop emergency response, risk reduction and disaster recovery programs to better serve Oregonians during times of disaster. OEM prioritizes an equitable and inclusive culture of preparedness that empowers all Oregonians to thrive in times in crisis. The agency leads collaborative statewide efforts, inclusive of all partners and the communities we serve, to ensure capability to get help in an emergency and to protect, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies or disasters. For more information about the OEM, visit oregon.gov/oem.
You can get this document in other languages, large print, braille, or a format you prefer. For assistance, email OEM_publicinfo@oem.oregon.gov or dial 711. 

State Interoperability Executive Council -02/10/25

Salem, Ore.--The State Interoperability Executive Council (SIEC) will meet Tuesday, February 11, 2025 from 1:30 -- 3:30 p.m. The meeting will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. A dial-in option is also available. The meeting is open to the public and comments will be taken from those who wish to participate.

 

The agenda and handouts are posted on the council's website. Dial-In information for those who wish to attend over the phone or virtually are outlined in the meeting agenda.

 

What:       State Interoperability Executive Council 

When:      Tuesday, February 11, 1:30 PM -- 3:30 PM

Where:     Virtually via Microsoft Teams

                 Click here to join the meeting

                 Dial In: 503-446-4951 Pin: 266 306 980#

Who:        Members of the State Interoperability Executive Council 

 

The SIEC was created under the State Chief Information Officer to be the statewide interoperability governing body and to serve as the primary steering group for the Oregon Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP). The SIEC's mission is to develop and maintain the SCIP, develop recommendations and guidelines for policy, identify technology and standards, and coordinate intergovernmental resources to facilitate statewide public safety communications interoperability.

 

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION OF DISABILITIES -- Reasonable accommodations, such as assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters and materials in large print or audiotape, will be provided as needed. In order to ensure availability, please contact William Chapman at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management at telephone 971-283-4607, or email SWIC.OR@das.oregon.gov at least 24 hours prior to the meeting with your request.