Pearl District Neighborhood Association

Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET)

Don't just stand there, join your NET!

A Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) is a group of at least 20 citizens who have been trained and certified by the Portland Fire Bureau to provide emergency assistance in their neighborhood for 72 hours following an area-wide emergency, such as a severe winter storm or a major earthquake.

The Fire Bureau certifies over 200 NET members each year and will organize a team in each neighborhood in Portland. To date, the Bureau has certified 520 NET volunteers representing nearly 80 of the city's 94 neighborhood associations.

Unfortunately, the Pearl District's NET has dwindled to fewer than four members. Ironically, with so many unreinforced brick and masonry buildings, the Pearl needs a strong, large NET because we stand the biggest chance for disaster in a major earthquake.

Why NETwork?

In addition to winter storms and other city-wide emergencies, Portland is due for a major earthquake.

According to the Oregon Department of Geology and the US Geological Survey, our region has had a major earthquake about every 350 years and the next one is due any time.

When a major disaster occurs, Fire, Police and other City resources will be overwhelmed with requests. Their operations may also be slowed by damaged streets and downed communications.

The bottom line is that most neighborhoods will be on your own for many of the first critical 72 hours after disaster strikes.

In some neighborhoods, residents also need to be prepared for some other emergencies, like wildland fires, flooding, or hazardous material spills.

In any of these situations, most of us want to help our neighbors, and we're probably the first help available on the scene.

In fact, citizens are typically responsible for 80 percent of rescues during a disaster; however, the other fact is that would-be rescuers often become victims themselves. Training is needed to keep helpful neighbors from getting hurt.

We'll all be much more effective in saving lives and property if we're trained and prepared to work together as a team in partnership with the Fire Bureau after a disaster strikes. That's why the NET training is so important.

How to NETwork

Pearl neighbors can become certified NET members by attending 25 hours of FREE basic training, provided by Fire Bureau personnel.

Basic training covers disaster awareness and home preparedness, basic fire suppression, utility control and hazardous material identification, disaster medicine, urban search and rescue, trauma intervention and disaster psychology, and NET team management.

The Portland Fire Bureau provides NET training FREE to Portland residents on a first-come first-served basis. Participants are asked to assemble a kit of personal protective items and some tools (heavy gloves, flashlight, wrench, etc.) and you may need to purchase some of these.

Advanced registration is necessary.

If you're interested, please call the NET INFO LINE at the Portland Fire Bureau, 823-1260.

Please don't delay! The Pearl needs a strong NET!