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Portland firefighters mark 9/11, stress preparedness, long-term health and staffing needs
Summary
At a Labor and Workforce Committee meeting, Portland Fire & Rescue leaders and the Portland Firefighters Association commemorated 9/11, outlined long-term health risks for first responders and urged continued investment in stations, staffing and federal health funding for responders.
Chair Loretta Smith convened the Labor and Workforce Committee of the Portland City Council on Sept. 11 to mark the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, highlight emergency preparedness and hear from Portland Fire & Rescue and the Portland Firefighters Association about responder health, mutual aid and local readiness.
The committee heard that remembering 9/11 remains part of Portland’s public-safety calendar and that lessons from the attacks — including improved radio interoperability and an increased focus on behavioral health — have reshaped local emergency response.
"There is roughly a 35% chance that in the next 50 years, a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake will come to Portland," Chair Loretta Smith said, urging residents and officials to prepare. "Global warming and climate change are causing greater and greater risk of severe drought and other extreme weather events." She opened the meeting by thanking firefighters for their service and noted a citywide emphasis on emergency preparedness.
Isaac McClendon, president of the Portland Firefighters…
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