Notes from SNA EP NET Committee meeting 11/17/15, 7-9pm at Fire Station 09 (20 attendees)
(Due to space limitation, attendance at this meeting was restricted to Active NETs and a handful of the most engaged neighborhood activists. Our meetings are usually open to all, but this was a unique opportunity to engage with PBEM and PF&R, so we were compelled to give “first dibs” on limited seating to those who have been actively working on emergency preparedness in our community.)
Jeremy Van Keuren (NET Program Specialist, Portland Bureau of Emergency Management) provided a detailed update about the NET program, including current status and possible future plans. Key notes:
- There are more than 1,000 NET Applicants waiting for basic training.
- There will probably be a major training event in March for up to 400 participants. Details TBA; Applicants will be notified. In the meantime, view the prerequisite online videos and pass the quiz, and submit your background check if you haven’t already.
- A “Task Book” is in the works which will encourage Advanced Training and earn a challenge coin for successful participants. It is expected that it will require two years to complete all the requirements.
- The NET Leadership Committee, which will meet sometime in January, is considering reorganizing Teams according to geographic/functional regions, rather than the artificial neighborhood boundaries currently used. This will enable teams to work more efficiently, and share knowledge more effectively.
- Ernie Jones, PBEM Volunteer Program Development, is coordinating outreach events and trainings, including CPR and First Aid certifications.
Our gracious host firefighters at Station 09 (which serves Sunnyside) gave us a tour of the station and their equipment.
The NET team continued its discussion of the ICS (Incident Command System), a requisite component of every effective NET Team Member’s knowledge.
There will be no meeting in December. We will next meet January 19, 10a-12p. Location to be announced on www.SunnysidePrepared.com.