In the event of a citywide or regional emergency such as a severe winter storm, flood or major earthquake, households need to be prepared to be on their own for the first 72 hours. Neighborhoods need to be prepared for self-sufficiency, too. Volunteers will naturally be the first on-the-scene emergency responders in their own neighborhood, especially when firefighters and police are overwhelmed with requests for help and could be slowed down by impassable streets and other damage.

Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) are citizens trained by the Portland Office of Emergency Management and Portland Fire & Rescue to provide emergency disaster assistance within their own neighborhoods.  NET members receive basic training on how to save lives and property until the professionals can arrive.  They have the skills to help their neighbors without getting hurt themselves.  NET members are: 

 

1. Prepared for self-sufficiency for 72 hours in any emergency.

 

2. Able to provide emergency assistance to their family and immediate neighbors.

 

3. Able to work as an emergency response team to save lives and property in their neighborhood in the event of a major disaster.

 

4. Able to guide untrained volunteers who will want to help others when disaster  strikes.

 

The City of Portland offers the NET training at no cost to people who live or work in Portland and is committed to training and organizing a team in each of the city’s 96 neighborhood areas. Over 1,000 citizens have already completed the training and teams have been started in 82 neighborhoods. 

 

To join a NET, participants complete a total of 26 hours of basic training including the following topics:

 

Session 1:   Disaster Awareness—Earthquakes and Other Disasters

                 Home and Workplace Preparedness

                 Neighborhood Preparedness and NETs

 

Session 2:   Utility Control—Gas, Electric and Water

                 Fire Extinguishers—Types and Uses

                 Hazardous Materials

 

Session 3:   Disaster Medicine (I)

                 Treating Life-Threatening Injuries

                 Medical Triage

 

Session 4:   Disaster Medicine (II)

                 Treating Common Injuries

                 Setting Up a Medical Treatment Area

                 Public Health Considerations

 

Session 5:   Light Search & Rescue (I)

                 Visual Assessment of Damaged Buildings                     

                 Search Techniques

 

Session 6:   Light Search & Rescue (II)

                 Rescue Techniques

                 Patient Transport

 

Session 7:  Disaster Psychology and Trauma Intervention

                NET Team Management

                NETs in Action—Tabletop Exercise

 

Session 8:   NET Exercise

 

Quarterly:   Advanced or refresher training and drills

 

Please remember that you must live or work in Portland and be at least 14 years old to take the NET training.  You will need to pre-register for the training.  You can be sure to receive a registration packet for the next series of classes by filling out and returning the form below, or you can call 503-823-1260 and leave the information in the NET voice mailbox.  Thanks again for your interest!

                                                                                                                                                      

 

Please print out and complete this form and mail hard copy to:   NET Program, Portland Office of Emergency Management, 1001 SW Fifth Ave., #650, Portland, Oregon 97204.

 

NEIGHBORHOOD EMERGENCY TEAM (NET) TRAINING

 

[  ]   Yes, I want to receive information and a registration packet for the next NET training. 

 

Please print clearly:

 

NAME____________________________

 

STREET ADDRESS                                       ________________           

 

ZIP __________________

 

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION:__________________________

 

NEAREST CROSS ST.__________________

                                                            

TELEPHONE  (DAY)                               

 

(EVES.) ____________________________

 

EMAIL ADDRESS: ____________________