Oregon — As severe flooding impacts communities across Washington state, Oregon is providing emergency assistance to support ongoing response and life-safety efforts.
At the request of the Washington Emergency Management Division, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) deployed a six-member swift water rescue team from Clackamas Fire District on Dec. 11. The team is assigned to a seven-day mission and is assisting with flood rescue and response operations in affected areas.
The deployment was coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a nationwide mutual aid system that allows states to share resources during disasters. EMAC ensures responding personnel are properly credentialed, operations are coordinated, and costs are eligible for reimbursement. This mission marks Oregon’s first EMAC deployment of a swift water rescue team.
“Oregon is proud to stand with Washington during this challenging time,” said Kelly Jo Craigmiles, emergency program coordinator with the OEM Response Team. “These highly trained responders are answering the call to protect lives and support communities impacted by flooding.”
In addition to the rescue team, Oregon has alerted Washington that the 125th National Guard is available to deploy if requested. The state has also offered additional drone support through county-level pilots for aerial damage assessments and situational awareness. These drone assets are part of Oregon’s State Preparedness and Incident Response Equipment (SPIRE) program.
OEM expressed gratitude to deployed responders for their professionalism and to state and local partners in both Oregon and Washington for continued coordination during the emergency response.
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