Why Local Participation Matters in Oregon’s 2026 State‑Level Exercise

As Oregon observes International Emergency Manager Awareness Month, communities across the state are preparing for Getting Through Lahar'd Times, the 2026 State-Level Exercise focused on recovery after a simulated volcanic eruption. Governor Tina Kotek's proclamation highlights how emergency managers at all levels-local, Tribal, state and federal-work tirelessly to protect lives and strengthen resilience statewide.

But this statewide exercise is not just a state-agency undertaking. Its success relies heavily on local participation-counties, Tribes, and community partners who bring real-world context, local knowledge, operational realities, and unique community needs into the exercise environment.

A Statewide Exercise Built for Whole-Community Engagement

Getting Through Lahar'd Times will run October 13-16, 2026, testing Oregon's ability to assess damage, transition from response to recovery, set recovery objectives, and develop a State Recovery Action Plan. Using a realistic volcanic eruption scenario, participants will practice long-term recovery coordination under the Oregon Disaster Recovery Base Plan.

OEM emphasizes that these exercises reveal gaps, improve plans, and strengthen relationships before a real disaster strikes-a benefit only fully realized when local voices participate.

"Emergency managers are the backbone of community safety and resilience. Their work is often unseen, but it's essential-planning for disasters long before they strike, coordinating people and resources during crisis, and helping communities recover and rebuild afterward," OEM Director Erin McMahon said. "OEM's job is to support these professionals through statewide coordination during events, direct technical assistance, and by providing training and exercises like Getting Through Lahar'd Times. Everyday, we strengthen the systems and relationships emergency managers rely on. Our communities expect us to be ready, and OEM is committed to giving emergency managers the tools, training, and partnership they need to protect Oregonians when it matters most."

Why Local Participation is Essential

State-level exercises are designed to test large-scale coordination-but they cannot succeed without the insight and operational experience of local responders and emergency managers. Local agencies:

• Offer firsthand knowledge of community systems, infrastructure, and vulnerabilities.
• Help validate whether statewide plans align with on-the-ground realities.
• Strengthen partnerships between counties, Tribes, state agencies, and regional support networks.
• Build their own readiness by practicing recovery tasks under a realistic statewide framework.

Exercise planning for LT26 specifically includes county and Tribal emergency management offices as invited players and observers, reinforcing the importance of inclusive, whole-community planning.

Reflections from the Field

Benton County Emergency Manager Bryan Lee reflects on the importance of coordination, noting that: "Emergency managers often act as the "hub" connecting responders, resources, and the community during crises. That hub becomes even more critical during statewide exercises, where collaboration ensures smoother response and recovery when real emergencies occur."

Building Oregon's Resilience-Together

Local participation transforms a state-level exercise from a planning event into a meaningful test of Oregon's full emergency management system. Involving counties, Tribes, Community Organizations Active in Disasters, and Recover Support Functions ensure that statewide strategies reflect real community needs, enhance coordination, and reinforce Oregon's commitment to resilience.

By engaging deeply in Getting Through Lahar'd Times, Oregon's local partners help shape how recovery planning will function when communities need it, turning training into tangible readiness for the future.

Join the Conversation this August

As August unfolds, OEM invites people in Oregon to:

• Find out who your local emergency manager is-reach out to learn more about how your community prepares for disasters.
• Say thank you to your emergency management staff, volunteers, or CERT team members.
• Get prepared: Make or update your emergency kit, sign up for local alerts at ORAlert.gov, review your household emergency plan, and take the next step by becoming Be 2 Weeks Ready.
• Share your story: Use social media to highlight how you or your community prepares and tag #EMAwarenessMonth.
• Follow OEM on social media throughout August for resources to help celebrate and share the value of emergency management and for updates on the Lahar'd Times exercise.