SNA EP NET Meeting Notes – Nov 17 2015

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.

SNA EP NET Meeting Notes – Oct 20 2015

Notes from SNA EP NET Committee meeting 10/20/15, 10am-12pm at Hawthorne Hostel (12 attendees)

The Committee will apply for a Southeast Uplift grant, likely to create a free “tour of prepared homes”.  The tour would enable SEUL residents to see the steps others have taken to prepare for emergencies, from seismic retrofitting to bulk water storage.

The SouthEast Portland Tool Library is also applying for a grant to conduct seismic retrofitting workshops, and to procure the necessary tools. If both grants are approved, we will cross-promote with SEPTL.

OK/HELP window signs should be available from PBEM early next year.

Multnomah County Library is conducting a series of earthquake preparedness workshops, which several attendees endorsed as worthwhile.

Ann & Lee described their experience conducting a Map Your Neighborhood project. Their very interesting presentation led to a productive discussion that inspired others. MYN brochures are currently out-of-stock, but PBEM plans to have a new supply available early next year. This is a critical step to preparing your micro-neighborhood for emergencies of any kind.