Press release from: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office

UPDATED: Clackamas County Jail to test preparedness with mock disaster drill this Sunday, Aug. 30

Posted: Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009

AUG. 30 4:33 p.m. UPDATE: The mock disaster drill has been successfully completed.

The Clackamas County Jail, in cooperation with several other emergency and law-enforcement agencies, will conduct a practice "emergency exercise" on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009.

This exercise -- which will simulate a major disaster at the jail -- is a drill to test the emergency preparedness of staff and responding personnel. Citizens can expect to see fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, and other official traffic engaged in this practice exercise.

Jail staffers and cooperating fire, police, and emergency preparedness officials will practice their emergency roles in response to a simulated disaster that causes large structural damage to the jail facility -- requiring emergency response to ensure the safety of inmates, staffers, and the public.

The drill will require the road to the Clackamas County Jail (Kaen Road) to be closed to travel from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. All internal jail operations will be canceled on Aug. 30.

Lt. Lee Eby, Administrative Lieutenant at the Jail, said the exercise isn't just required by Sheriff’s Office regulations -- it's also vital to local emergency agencies and public safety.

"The goal of this exercise is to enhance working relationships between first responders and jail personnel," Eby said. "It's a mock exercise, but it's also a very real test of our ability to respond to an actual disaster. We appreciate the public’s understanding and cooperation."

The drill will begin at 1 p.m., and will involve emergency responders from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team, Clackamas County Fire District #1, the Clackamas County Corrections Division, TriMet personnel, and the Oregon City Police Department. It is being coordinated by the Clackamas County Jail Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT). The drill will last for approximately four hours.

Media outlets interested in covering the drill are asked to contact Det. Jim Strovink. No vehicles will be allowed in this area.

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