Community Engagement
Lessons Learned (CELL) Project

Coordinated by the RDPO Disaster Messaging Work Group

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Background

In the past few years, we have navigated multi-layered natural and human-caused disasters (global pandemic, wildfire and smoke, extreme heat, etc.). Government-led disaster response and recovery capabilities are limited and far too often don’t include the perspective and participation of the very communities most impacted by these disasters. 

About the project

The Community Engagement Lessons Learned (CELL) project will explore the successes and failures of disaster-related communication between public agencies and culturally-specific communities during the disasters of 2020 and 2021.

The focus is on communities disproportionately impacted by disasters, including communities experiencing barriers to services; people with disabilities, access, and functional needs; Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color (BIPOC); immigrants and refugees. CELL will work with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in Clackamas, Clark, Columbia, Multnomah and Washington counties.

STAGE 1: THE Disasters of 2020 & 2021

January - November 2021

  • Reviewed equity and community engagement studies in local, regional, and national communities.

January - March 2022

  • Partnered with representatives of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) to explore the disaster-related communication between public agencies and underserved communities during the disasters of 2020 and 2021. Select CBOs participated in online discussions and an online survey. CBOs were compensated for their time.

  • The survey was then revised and offered to a larger group of CBOs. These CBOs were also compensated for their time.

April 2022

  • The survey is now available for any CBO in the region to complete. While we do not have funding for further compensation, we are extremely grateful to any who complete it. And we hope to include you in future projects!

April - JuLY 2022

  • Produce a report with findings and recommendations for future disaster outreach, training, communications, and collaboration with culturally-specific communities.

STAGE 2: Accessible alert & warning

MARCH - AUGUST 2022

  • Review equity and community engagement studies in local, regional, and national communities.

August - October 2022

  • Hold accessible emergency alert and warning workshops with CBO representatives to discuss specific messages. Workshops will be led by a trauma-informed facilitator. Participants will be paid $75/hour for attending the following:

  1. Orientation meeting (1-2 hours) to discuss project goals, what are alerts and warnings, who sends them and why, methods for sending and receiving them, types of hazards they could be sent for.

  2. Workshop (2.5-3.5 hours) to look at example scenarios and co-create alert and warning messages that are culturally relevant, trauma informed, and accessible for all members of the community.

January - February 2023

  • CELL staff will give a presentation on accessible emergency alert and warning message findings.

June - July 2023

  • Produce a report on accessible emergency alert and warning messages.

Contacts