Our History

RDPO HISTORY

REMG FORMATION

In 1993, the Regional Emergency Management Group (REMG) was established through an intergovernmental agreement to coordinate emergency management efforts across five counties (Clackamas, Clark, Columbia, Multnomah, and Washington). REMG consisted of two committees - the Regional Emergency Management Policy Advisory Committee (REMPAC) and the Regional Emergency Management Technical Committee (REMTEC).

UASI AWARD

In 2003, the Portland Metro Region received its first Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) grant. A grant management organization was created to oversee the grant. Our “UASI area” was defined by the existing relationship of the five counties, which make up the majority of the Portland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

RDPO FORMATION

In 2012, the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization (RDPO) was formed out of a desire to unify and build upon the work of REMG and several other discipline-specific coordination groups, as well as to manage the region’s UASI grant. REMPAC became the RDPO Policy Committee and REMTEC became the Emergency Management Work Group, which we still call REMTEC. The RDPO Steering Committee and several other working groups originated from the UASI grant management organization, with some modifications.