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
PublicAlerts.org accessibility audit and remediation, usability test, promotional campaigns
Assisted with Citizen Corps Work Group preparedness videos
Assisted with the Regional Building Damage Assessment Project (RBDAP)
Assisted with the Social Vulnerability Tools (SVT)
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