Vancouver — A coalition of government agencies and other organizations last month officially launched a new partnership aimed at coordinating disaster preparedness in the Portland-Vancouver area.
The Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization initially formed in 2012, but became official in January. Among the entities that have signed on with the group are Clark County and the city of Vancouver. Both also have seats on the organization’s governing body.
The organization also includes participants from Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Columbia counties in Oregon. It is based at the city of Portland’s Bureau of Emergency Management, which also provides assistance.
The organization hopes to bring together elected leaders, public safety officials, emergency responders and others in an effort to make the region better prepared for a disaster. That includes a major earthquake, which is expected to strike the Northwest in the future.
