September 13, 2018
Bend Oregon

The Oregon Associations of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) membership held their annual awards banquet to recognize some of the extraordinary work done by Oregon’s 9-1-1 Dispatchers. This year the ceremony was held in Bend Oregon.

A local Astoria 9-1-1 Dispatcher, Kristen Sodervick was one of those recognized with the awarding of a State Critical Incident Award.

Also recognized, though not receiving a State Level Award are Astoria Lead Dispatcher Jennifer Peden and Operations Supervisor Candace Pozdolski. Both received letters of recognition for having been submitted for award consideration. Jennifer and Candace were both recognized for Critical Incident award submissions. Jennifer was further recognized for a Hearts of 9-1-1 award submission for her work on the annual Halloween bag distribution.

At the State level, Dispatcher Kristen Sodervick was awarded a Critical Incident award. The citation appears below.

( Pictured L to R: Lead Dispatcher Jennifer Peden, Dispatcher Kristen Sodervick and Operations Supervisor Candace Pozdolski )

On the 6^th of July 2017 at 1358 hours, Dispatcher Kristen Sodervick received a call from the Coast Guard reporting one of their helicopters spotted a brush fire, and gave coordinates in latitude and longitude. Kristen plotted these coordinates and toned out Warrenton Fire as well as the Oregon Department of Forestry. Given the remote location, off of Delaura Beach road, additional units from Warrenton Police as well as the Clatsop County Sheriffs responded to help locate the fire.

 

With numerous Fire and Law Enforcement units flooding the area, the only thing that was located was smoke. The active sources location was turning out to be very elusive. Kristen called the Coast Guard back and requested an over-flight by the Coast Guard Helicopter again to help locate. Unfortunately, the aircraft was already on the ground and needed re-fueling.

This did not deter Kristen. Thinking outside the box she called the Bar Pilots, and was once again told they could not authorize this as their Helo was on contract, though they would give her the Contractors phone number. Kristen then called the Contract Pilot, and after trying was finally able to get a Helo to conduct an over-flight.

By this time the surrounding areas of Camp Rilea, Delaura Beach and Fort Stevens had been checked and still the First Responders were unable to locate the source of the fire. Kristen coordinated communications between units on the ground and the Bar Pilots Helo, which proved ineffective so she assumed communications relay duties between the aircraft and Fire units. Kristen had the Helo hover above the active fire so that units on the ground could get a better location, and plot a course in through the thick Junipers and underbrush.

Kristen’s logistical support, and correct decision making coupled with her tenacious follow through, allowed for various disparate units to come together in a cohesive effort to locate and extinguish this fast burning fire.

The first ODF Engine to attempt to reach the scene, became stuck and was rendered out of service. Kristen then toned out Lewis and Clark Fire and had Seaside tone out Gearhart Fire for Type 6 Brush Engines.

By the time the Fire Units were returning Kristen had coordinated units from:

USCG Sector Columbia, Bar Pilots, Oregon Department of Forestry, Warrenton Fire Department, Lewis & Clark Fire Department, Gearhart Fire Department, Camp Rilea Fire Department, Warrenton Police Department and the Clatsop County Sheriffs.

Kristen’s decision making and coordination skills under these unusual circumstances is to be commended, and in in keeping with the highest standards of Public Safety Dispatching.

These awards are very competitive, the very fact we had several personnel in consideration speaks volumes for some of the outstanding behind the scenes work these Dispatchers do every day. They truly are the gateway to emergency services and must make quick and correct decisions each and every time. I could not be prouder of them, said Manager Jeff Rusiecki.

Our public safety dispatchers are a critical element in the delivery of life-saving services. This recognition by APCO-NENA is a validation of the excellent work all of our dispatchers do on a day-to-day basis.    Congratulations to Dispatcher Kristen Sodervick, Lead Dispatcher Jennifer Peden and Operations Supervisor Candace Pozdolski for another job well done, said Chief of Police Geoff Spalding.

***FEMA has just released information that this test will be postponed until the beginning of October. Astoria 911 will update and reissue the press release once the date is confirmed.***

 

On Thursday September 20^th, 2018 at 11:18 am, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will be conducting a nationwide test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). 

Nationwide, a test message will be sent to all wireless carriers that currently participate in IPAWS. Citizens should expect an alert on their cell phone as long as the phone is turned on, within range of an active cell tower and whose wireless carriers participate in the IPAWS program. It will appear as a Presidential Alert on your phone but will include that this is a TEST ONLY and no action on your part is required.

Astoria 911 would like to remind the public that the use of 911 is for emergencies only. Please do not call 911 inquiring about the validity of this nationwide test as this ties up both dispatchers and lines for actual emergencies. Also note that we would like to keep our non-emergency lines open and available for citizens needing to report non-emergent police matters.

 

The following information has been provided by the Oregon Office of Emergency Management:

WHAT: A national test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) with radio, TV, cable stations and wireless carriers. IPAWS is a national system for local alerting that provides authenticated emergency alert and information messaging from emergency officials to the public through radio, TV, cell phones and Internet applications. This is the fourth EAS nationwide test since 2011 and the first national WEA test.

WHY:  To be sure that in times of an emergency or disaster, public safety officials have methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public. Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems is a way to assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed. The WEA system became operational in April 2012, and there has never been a nationwide WEA message sent. A nationwide WEA message would only be used in the most extreme emergency situation.

WHERE: Nationwide

WHEN: September 20, 2018 The WEA test commences at 11:18 AM Pacific Time (2:18 PM EDT); the EAS portion follows at 11:20 AM Pacific Time (2:20 PM EDT).

The EAS test is expected to last approximately one minute and will verify the delivery and broadcast of a national test message and assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.

WHO: FEMA in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

HOW:  The WEA test message will be sent to all wireless providers that currently participate in IPAWS. Cell towers will broadcast the WEA test for approximately 30 minutes. During this time, cell phones that are 1.) Switched on, 2.) Within range of an active cell tower, and 3.) Whose wireless carrier participates in WEAs, should be capable of receiving the test message. Cell phones should receive the WEA message once.

The EAS test message will be made available and shared through radio, TV, cable, and direct broadcast satellite systems in all U.S. states and territories. Their participation in the test is mandatory per FCC rules. The WEA test message will be sent to all wireless providers that currently participate in IPAWS.

On August 31, 2018 just after 10:00 PM, Astoria Police received a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred at Dairy Queen, 843 West Marine Dr. Astoria.  Employees reported that a thin white male, possibly in his mid to late 30’s,  approximately 5’9″ in height, wearing blue jeans with a blue hooded sweatshirt pulled over his face, wielded a small pistol demanding money.  The suspect took an undisclosed amount of money exiting the building headed towards the New Young’s Bay Bridge on foot.   Warrenton Police, Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office and the Oregon State Police assisted in conducting a search of the area.  Unfortunately the suspect was not located and remains at large.  Anyone who may have information about this incident, or who was traveling through the area around the time of the robbery and saw anything suspicious is asked to contact Detective Ken Hansen at 503-325-4411 or by email at khansen@astoria.or.us.