Disaster Messaging Work Group

The RDPO Disaster Messaging Work Group (DMWG) collaborates to create consistent, cohesive, and trauma-informed disaster messaging that meets the language, disability, and cultural needs of the whole community. 

Chair: Laura Hall, Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization
Vice Chair: Bonny Cushman, Regional Water Providers Consortium


DIASTER MESSAGING INDEX

View our Disaster Messaging Index - a monthly compilation of resources related to disaster messaging, including general risk communication, hazard-specific communication, language and disability access, emergency alert and warning systems, etc.

If you have resources to share, send them to Laura Hall.


ABOUT THE DMWG

WE ASPIRE TO:

  • Represent our diverse region (geography, disability, income, race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, language background, housing status, age, etc.). 

  • Make all disaster messaging accessible. It is ethical, equitable, and inclusive to prioritize language and disability accessibility. It also aligns with the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organizations Guiding Principles and Equity Goals


DMWG PROJECTS

CURRENT

  • Local Media & Disasters - Connect with local media partners to explore collaboration in emergency alerting (specifically EAS) and other public communication before/during/after disasters.

  • Systems & Standards in Public Information & Warning - Update the Regional Joint Information System Concept of Operations Plan. Create regional disaster messaging guidelines.

  • K-12 School Messaging - Assess preparedness messaging in regional schools and create recommendations for future school messaging projects.

PAST

COLLABORATION

The DMWG chair participates in a number of initiatives in order to inform DMWG work and advocate for the disaster messaging needs of the Portland Metro Region.

  • Local partnerships: Public Information Officers Work Group, Emergency Alert & Warning Work Group

  • Oregon partnerships: OR-ALERT Sub-Committee on Alerts and Warning Recommended Practices (SCRAP), Disability in Emergency Management Advisory Commission (DEMAC), OHA Disaster Resilience Learning Collaborative (DRLC)

  • National partnerships: Language & Accessibility in Alert & Warning Workgroup (LAAWW)


WORK GROUP MEMBERS

The DMWG includes 48 active members from the following agencies:

  • 211info

  • Care Oregon

  • City of Portland

  • City of Gresham

  • City of Troutdale

  • Clackamas County

  • Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency

  • Columbia County

  • Council for the Homeless

  • Health Preparedness Organization

  • Kaiser Permanente

  • Metro Regional Government

  • Multnomah County

  • Oak Lodge Water Services

  • Oregon Coalition of Local Health Officers

  • Oregon Department of Emergency Management

  • Oregon Health Authority

  • Portland Community College

  • Portland State University

  • Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization

  • Regional Public Health Preparedness & Response Programs

  • Regional Water Providers Consortium

  • Washington County