Oregon Department of Emergency Management to host IronOR 24, statewide quake exercise

 SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Department of Emergency Management is preparing to host IronOR 24, a statewide emergency exercise taking place October 28-31 This four-day exercise is designed to test Oregon’s capabilities and readiness in responding to a catastrophic Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake.

Building upon the Cascadia Rising 2016 exercise, which simulated the immediate response to a Cascadia up to day 3. IronOR 24 will focus on continued operations Day 4 through Day 7 of the disaster response. The exercise will evaluate the state’s ability to maintain operational coordination, ensure critical communication systems remain functional, and develop a strategy for human impacts during these critical days of response.

IronOR 24 Exercise Schedule:

• Monday, October 28: Event Preparation and Scene Setting
• Tuesday, October 29: Exercise Play
• Wednesday, October 30: Exercise Play
• Thursday, October 31: Exercise Play and Review

The 12-month planning process for IronOR 24 involved a review of lessons learned from Cascadia Rising, and further development of critical statewide response. Key goals of the exercise include:

1. Operational coordination: ensuring the Oregon Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) can prioritize and coordinate response actions, sharing critical incident information throughout the simulated response.
2. Redundant communications: testing the establishment and maintenance of communications systems to mitigate the impacts of disrupted communications following the earthquake.
3. Human impacts strategy: addressing the human needs of those affected by the earthquake, including sheltering, healthcare, and mass care, through Emergency Support Function (ESF) #6.

“IO24 is a collaborative opportunity to practice a unified Cascadia Earthquake response that will include participation from 18 state agencies, 17 county governments, 9 Oregon recognized Tribal governments, and 10+ federal agencies participating at varying levels over three days." said Robert Quinn, Exercise Officer at the Oregon Department of Emergency Management. " This exercise enables our statewide partners to assess their current capabilities and readiness for this significant hazard.” 

OEM has developed a dedicated online storyboard for IronOR 24, which serves as a central hub for exercise planning, updates and resources. This tool supports participating agencies and provides non-participating organizations with critical context about the exercise.

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About the Oregon Department of Emergency Management:

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management leads statewide efforts to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from emergencies. By fostering collaboration with partners and the community, OEM ensures that Oregon is ready to respond to any disaster.