For More Information Contact:
Lance Robertson, 984-4716
Eugene Water & Electric Board

May 19, 2008

Eugene, Portland water crews participate in emergency exercise

Water crews and officials from the Eugene Water & Electric Board and the Portland Water Bureau will participate in a “mutual aid exercise” on Tuesday, May 20.

The two water utilities will simulate an earthquake as part of an emergency response training exercise. A Portland Water Bureau “disaster assessment team” that traveled to assist New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will be on hand to help with the exercise. Portland Water Bureau and EWEB crews also will be dispatched to “repair” quake damage throughout the city.

This is the first co-utility exercise by EWEB since it joined the Oregon Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network in 2007. In the event of a real disaster, the participating agencies have pledged to pool resources or come to the aid of a single agency in need.