On Saturday, October 9, 2010, the Portland Office of Emergency Management (OEM) led an emergency exercise at Portland Fire & Rescue’s (PF&R) Fire Station 3 in NW Portland to test communication tools used during a natural or man made disaster.

Members of Portland’s OEM’s Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NET), PF&R, Portland Emergency Coordination Center, Multnomah Amateur Radio Emergency Services and surrounding metro emergency agencies tested amateur radio equipment that will be used if day to day communication systems such as phone lines, internet or cell phones are not operating during a disaster.

According to OEM, amateur radio communications are proven to be the most reliable communication systems in all types of disasters or incidents.

Learn More About the the Portland Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

OEM is responsible for the comprehensively planning for and responding to all manner of disasters, whether man-made or natural within the City of Portland. The goal of Portland's OEM is to provide leadership in emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction, response and recovery for the City of Portland in order to protect lives and property in the event of a natural or human-caused disaster. Visit OEM's official website at http://www.portlandonline.com/oem/ for further information.

   Portland Fire & Rescue 

   We Respond: Always Ready, Always There

   October 12, 2010