The Emergency Preparedness Committee was established to provide you with information to help you prepare for emergencies. We try to have current information and links to other websites that provide answers to all kinds of emergency preparedness questions. Please take a look at all it has to offer and continue to check back as we add more information.
GET INVOLVED – LEARN MORE
Emergency Preparedness Email List
Sign up to receive timely neighborhood updates and new information as it becomes available.
Contact the Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair.
City of Portland Preparedness Report
Read Portland’s 2017 assessment of our emergency readiness:
Emergency Preparation Sessions from SMILE
In the event of a major disaster such as an earthquake, “neighbors helping neighbors” will be the way we survive until help comes. SMILE offers a set of two, one plus hour sessions on preparing for earthquakes and other disasters. We are looking for volunteers to help by hosting or assisting with “Block Parties” — neighbors who live on both sides of one block, and perhaps the people who live around the corner who are invited to hear the classes and take home information to get prepared.
Session 1
Introduction and sponsors
Discussion of various types of disasters and why we are focusing on earthquakes
The subduction zone earthquake and the consequences
Making a plan for you, your family and your neighbors
The earthquake home hazard hunt
What to do before, during and after an earthquake
Fire safety and the use of a fire extinguisher
Gas , water and electric shutoffs
Preparing yourself mentally for handling earthquakes and other disasters
Session 2
Review of session 1 and show and tell
Critical services restoration timeline and local aftershock info
Under-the-bed kits
To-go kits – personal and family
To-stay kits
Car kits
Water storage and purification
Foods to store
How to handle personal sanitation issues
Connecting with your neighbors – phone book and map your neighborhood
Reminder of 8 steps to do immediately following an earthquake
Additional related opportunities
If you have taken the time to think about all the “what if’s” in the various disasters you might face then you have already started the process to help you, your family and your neighbors survive. So now take the next steps, host a block party, get better informed, make formal plans, practice them with your family, and help your neighbors get organized. In the end you will be ready for any disaster.
To sign up, or for more info contact Gail Hoffnagle at smileghoffnagle@gmail.com.
If you’d like to be part of a major research project tracking seismic activity, check out NetQuakes:
The USGS is trying to achieve a denser and more uniform spacing of seismographs in select urban areas to provide better measurements of ground motion during earthquakes. These measurements improve our ability to make rapid post-earthquake assessments of expected damage and contribute to the continuing development of engineering standards for construction.
To accomplish this, we developed a new type of digital seismograph that communicates its data to the USGS via the internet. The seismographs connect to a local network via WiFi and use existing broadband connections to transmit data after an earthquake. The instruments are designed to be installed in private homes, businesses, public buildings and schools with an existing broadband connection to the internet. OPB has an article that gives more of a feel for it: Homeowners Help USGS Track Quake Danger In ‘NetQuakes’ Project.
A National Community/Neighborhood Exercise
A team of national, regional, state and local agencies and organizations have undertaken an effort to develop, facilitate and evaluate a recurring series of disaster exercises entitled “Formidable Footprint”.
This series of exercises serves as an opportunity for governmental agencies along with community and faith based organizations to assess their capability to prepare for, respond to and recover from a variety of natural disasters which affect communities and neighborhoods.
For more information see the Disaster Resistant Communities Group website.
Good Advice from State Senator Brian Boquist
Senator Boquist, District 12 in Dallas, OR, is Chair of the Senate and Emergency Preparedness Committee.
Should We be Afraid of Earthquakes?
Scientists discuss our attitudes about the likelihood of a major earthquake in this interesting Los Angeles Times article.
USEFUL LINKS AND RESOURCES
Where to Buy Supplies
- Sanderson Safety 1101 Southeast Third Avenue, 503-238-5700 – first aid kits, hard hats, lots more.
- Andy & Bax 324 SE Grand, 503-234-7538
- Next Adventure 426 SE Grand, 503-233-0706
- REI 12160 SE 82nd, 503-659-1156 and 1405 NW Johnson, 503-221-1938
- REI-Outlet, How to Choose a First-Aid Kit
- Red Cross Store
- American Preparedness
- Preparedness.com
- Survival-Gear.com
- The Ready Store
- RedESupply – supplier for NET (Neighborhood Emergency Teams)
- wisefoodstorage.com – emergency food and supplies
- Cascadia Quake Kits
Earthquake Retrofitting Information
- Bay Area Retrofit
- City of Portland – Bureau of Development Services
- Northwest Seismic
- EZ Systems PDX
- Earthquake Tech
- Faultline Contractors
Emergency Radio and Notification
Local Emergency Radio: all operational TV and radio stations will be broadcasting news and information related to the disaster. It’s always a good idea to have a battery/hand crank radio which receives NOAA channels. There are a few that also pick up shortwave radio which is a nice feature too. During a disaster, most stations will be disseminating information as it becomes available. Two good news radio stations:
KOPB – 91.5 FM (NPR)
KXL — 101.1 FM and 750 AM
Sign Up for Emergency Notification by Phone, Email, and Twitter
Portland and Multnomah County send automated emergency notifications to published landline phone numbers. You can register to receive notifications on e-mail, cell phone, internet (VOIP) phone or landline provided by a cable TV carrier, or Twitter by going to the Public Alerts Signup Page.
Government Offices
Oregon Office of Emergency Management
Multnomah County Office of Emergency Management
Portland Bureau of Emergency Management
Portland Police Bureau
Portland Fire & Rescue
More General Information
American Red Cross
FEMA – Are You Ready Guide
Ready America
Homeland Security – Prepare My Family for a Disaster
National Resource Center on Advancing Emergency Preparedness for Culturally Diverse Communities
PREPOREGON.ORG A General information site
SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) Info specific to neighborhoods
quakekare.com All inclusive Kits for 1 to 4 people for 72 hours with food,water and supplies
fema.gov Extensive information on preparing for all types of disasters
The DKos Disaster Preparedness Primer – This very long article gathers together a series of 5 excellent, detailed articles on preparedness posted after Katrina by Alpha Geek, a Daily Kos writer with professional and personal preparedness experience. It has very comprehensive info on risk assessment, planning, and equipment and supplies (with links to buy). This post includes links to the original 5 articles, where you can find many additions from readers in the comments.
The Key to Survival? Family and Neighbors is an excellent article on the most important factor in surviving disaster: friends and neighbors. You’ll find both the original NPR audio story as well as a full transcript with photos.
Disaster Preparedness at Home: Filter out the Damage
Disaster Preparedness and Self-Storage
Emergency Driving Tactics and Tips
Protection for Disabled and Seniors