Portland emphasizes community volunteers, infrastructure resilience for National Preparedness Month

Portland officials and volunteer leaders on Sept. 8 told the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that neighborhood volunteers and investments in lifeline infrastructure are central to the city’s earthquake and climate preparedness.

The committee heard presentations from the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) and Public Works service-area leaders about volunteer programs such as the Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) and the Beacon radio network, the city’s investments in drinking water and wastewater resilience, and ongoing gaps in staffing and community outreach.

The presentations argued that neighbors will do most rescue and immediate relief after a catastrophic event. Jeremy Van Keuren, PBEM’s community preparedness manager, cited FEMA figures showing “90 to 95 percent of all the people who are rescued are rescued by their neighbor, not a professional first responder,” and described PBEM programs that train residents to fill that role.

PBEM staff outlined several volunteer-based programs. NET uses the Community Emergency Response Team curriculum and provides a 28-hour basic class; PBEM said Portland NET has trained thousands of…