Military Department Heads Recap Cascadia Rising Event with Senate Committee

Contributed by: Patrick Sieng | AOC Public Safety Policy Manager

September 22, 2016

Major General Michael Stencel and Office of Emergency Management Director Andrew Phelps presented a review of the Cascadia Rising Exercise held over four days earlier this Spring to the Senate Committee on Veterans and Emergency Preparedness. The exercise involved 26 local jurisdictions and 23 state agencies.

“This was an unprecedented level of support for such an important event,” said Phelps.

The exercise simulated a 9.0 earthquake and the subsequent response.

“People need to know that government won’t be there to save them,” said Sen. Brian Boquist, R-Dallas, during the hearing. “People need to prepare for this.”

AOC President Larry Givens, a Umatilla County Commissioner, has made resilience and partnership between counties in disasters a priority for this year. He has designated a new resilience subcommittee to help counties engage on the issue.