Portland Bureau of Emergency Management
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News Release
City of Portland Conducts IronOR 24 Exercise Simulating Earthquake Response - 10/24/24

The Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) has partnered with agencies from across the city and region to prepare for IronOR 24, a statewide, multi-day emergency exercise. The City of Portland will participate on Oct. 29 and 30. This exercise is designed to test Oregon's capabilities and readiness in responding to a catastrophic Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) earthquake.

IronOR 24 starts four days after the earthquake. The exercise evaluates our ability to maintain operational coordination, sustain critical communications, interface with the City’s emergency volunteers such as Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) and Multnomah County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (MCARES), and assess damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Media Availability

You are invited to a behind-the-scenes look at the emergency operations center in action during the IronOR 24 exercise to gain insight into how the region is preparing for a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.

Details:
1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the City of Portland’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 9911 S.E. Bush St., Portland.

Please RSVP to PBEMPIO@portlandoregon.gov if you plan to attend.

IronOR 24's planning process, which spanned more than 12 months, included a comprehensive review of City priorities and goals, and developed the following objectives:

The exercise will include participation from 12 City bureaus, four additional City teams, Multnomah County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, and Portland Neighborhood Emergency teams. The City of Portland will also practice responding with Multnomah County’s EOC and the City of Gresham, who will then integrate with the State.

“This exercise is not just about preparing for an earthquake. It’s also about improving our ability to respond to any emergency as an integrated regional team all the way to the State and Federal level,” said PBEM’s Amanda Westervelt, Iron OR ‘24 Exercise Coordinator for the City of Portland.

Prepare Yourself and Your Family

We each play a vital role in ensuring that our community is prepared. These resources can help you get started.  

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