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Security Corner

Now is the time to prepare

BY GENE MOSS
Since its inception in 2004 by A Partnership for Community Security
the Federal Emergency Man- In 2019, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland collab-
agement Agency (FEMA), Na- orated with the Secure Community Network to implement a
Published biweekly by tional Preparedness Month has communal security program to ensure the continued safety
Jewish Federation of been observed each September and security of the Greater Portland Jewish community. The
Greater Portland with the intent of raising aware- partnership between JFGP and SCN ensures that Jewish or-
9900 SW Greenburg Road, ness about the importance of ganizations, communities, life and culture are safe, secure
Suite 220 preparing for emergencies. and able to flourish.
Tigard, OR 97223 In September and throughout The partnership has focused on developing a manageable
503-245-6219 the rest of the year, the Jewish and effective security framework for JFGP. This framework
JewishPortland.org Federation of Greater Portland enhances security through collaborative partnerships with lo-
recognizes the importance of cal, state and national public safety stakeholders. It assesses
Editor emergency preparedness in risks, measures vulnerabilities, defines community security
needs, and provides critical training, incident and crisis re-
limiting impacts and creating
Deborah Moon improved outcomes of inci- sponse. In addition, the partnership provides education pro-
editor@jewishportland.org dents that affect the community. grams and fosters security awareness across the community.
503-892-7404 (message) As the JFGP’s Regional Secu- To design and implement this program, Gene Moss was
rity Director, I support and im- hired in May 2019 as the Regional Security Advisor to en-
Circulation plement this effort. Federation sure the local community could leverage SCN’s national
To receive the Jewish also recognizes that emergency resources and tools, as well as effectively coordinate with
Review in your email inbox, preparedness is a multi-faceted key partners. Gene brings more than 30 years of law en-
email your name and email effort. Highlighted below are forcement and security expertise to this role.
address to some of the activities that I Since the inception of the program, he has focused on estab-
editor@jewishportland.org work on with Federation, local lishing a proactive security program covering more than 40 or-
Jewish community organiza- ganizations across the Federation’s catchment area and creat-
OPINIONS printed in the tions and public safety partners ing a “security culture” across our entire community.
Jewish Review do not to develop and implement a munity members build these
necessarily reflect those wholistic emergency prepared- skill sets by providing best
ness program.
of the Jewish Review PLANNING practice trainings developed
Committee, the Jewish The foundation of any emer- by the Secure Community Net-
Federation of Greater gency preparedness program is work. These trainings cover a
Portland, its governing planning. While organizations wide variety of topics, from ac-
board or the staffs of either cannot choose when or where tive threat response with Coun-
the newspaper or the an incident will occur, they can tering Active Threat Training to
Federation. be proactive by pre-identifying Stop the Bleed, which equips
courses of action that can be participants with the skills nec-
Upcoming implemented when responding essary to recognize and respond Gene Moss has served as
to life-threatening bleeding.
to an incident. I work with Fed-
the Director of Community
HIGH HOLIDAYS
issues eration leadership to develop PREPAREDNESS Security for our Jewish
emergency plans that address
community since May 2019.
Issue date Deadline not only incidents that directly The High Holidays are an
impact Federation facilities, but incredibly important time of
also those that impact commu- year for the Jewish community for target hardening and other
Sept. 30 Sept. 23 nity organizations. I also pro- and a time when community physical security enhancements
members should feel free to and activities to nonprofit orga-
(Thursday) vide support to community or- nizations that are at high risk
ganizations wishing to develop worship without fear. In an ef-
emergency plans such as Emer- fort to ensure this, I work with of terrorist attack. In FY2021,
Oct. 13 Oct. 7 gency Operations Plans and local congregations to develop I conducted assessments for 21
Crisis Communication Plans. special event security plans and Jewish organizations. The effort
Oct. 27 Oct. 21 TRAINING encourage community mem- resulted in more than $800,000
Training is another critical bers to attend the SCN High being allocated to enhance the
Nov. 10 Nov. 4 component of emergency pre- Holidays Safety & Security safety and security of seven
paredness. Training allows or- Webinar Series. Jewish organizations.
ganization members to develop NONPROFIT SECURITY For more information on
Submit news, photos and practice the skills necessary GRANT PROGRAM implementing emergency pre-
and obituaries to to prevent or limit the impacts Each year, FEMA offers the paredness efforts at your orga-
nization, contact me at gmoss@
of incidents in a low stress, no Nonprofit Security Grant Pro-
editor@jewishportland.org fault environment. I help com- gram, which provides funding securecommunitynetwork.org.
10 Jewish Review Sept. 15, 2021