Disaster Preparedness
...while official help is useful... it is the personal ties among members of a community that determine survival during a disaster, and recovery in its aftermath.
The Disaster Preparedness Committee offers an introduction to Map Your Neighborhood, a guided process developed by Washington State Emergency Management that provides the tools for your block to properly prepare. We also aim to connect you with other similar-minded folks from different blocks so that you feel supported and connected.
As the Irvington neighborhood is comprised of around 8500 people, it is more effective if we prepare as hyper-local entities. We hope that you will help us to do this by representing your block.
Preparedness Resources
Risks to Our Region
Watch OPB’s Unprepared documentary discussing risks to our area
New Yorker article “The Really Big One”
Portland’s Unreinforced Masonry Database
Making a Plan & Building Your Kit
The Prepare! Guide from the Red Cross is a great starting point
Watch this video series from Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM)
Water storage tips
Get Involved
Map Your Neighborhood
The best thing you can do is educate yourself and your neighbors & work together to build a preparedness plan. Read about the program & get started mapping your neighborhood.
Join a neighborhood emergency team (Portland NET)
Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) volunteers are Portland residents trained by the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) and Portland Fire & Rescue to provide emergency disaster assistance within their own neighborhoods. NET members are trained to save lives and property until professional responders can arrive. Anyone who lives or works in Portland can take NET training. You don’t need to be a NET member in order to attend your local NET meetings.
Learn more about the NET program
Connect with the Irvington NET team
Become a BEECN volunteer
The Portland Bureau of Emergency Management has created the Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node (BEECN) program to help deal with the problem of post-quake communication. Within 24-48 hours of a major quake, each BEECN will be a place to get information and request emergency assistance. BEECNs will be staffed by neighborhood volunteers with access to radios.
Consider volunteering to staff a BEECN. This is an incredibly effective yet low-commitment way to get involved in earthquake planning for your neighborhood. If you have a HAM radio license or feel comfortable using FRS/GMRS radios (walkie talkies), they really need your help!
Join the Irvington Community Association’s Disaster Prep Committee
Share your talents with our group and help move our beautiful neighborhood toward self-sufficiency following a disaster. Contact prepared@irvingtonpdx.com