On November 14th at the BWNA executive board meeting, Con Bricca and Chris Boeh, co-leaders of Beaumont-Wilshire NET provided an update to the board of our Neighborhood Emergency Team (aka: NET). Their presence at the meeting was to re-introduce the team to the community leadership, to announce new team leadership, and to speak to the recent placement of new signs at Wilshire Park that read, “Neighborhood Emergency Staging Area”.
Late this summer Liz Johnson, after graciously and honorably serving as our team leader for over 9 years, announced that she would resign. Though resigned from leadership, she has decided to remain on as an active member. Thanks Liz, for a job very well done. To replace the leadership void, the team has accepted Con Bricca and Chris Boeh, who will serve as co-leaders.
Your Beaumont-Wilshire NET is comprised of 12 to 15 active citizen volunteers, who have been trained in basic life safety and emergency preparedness skills by Portland Fire & Rescue. Con and Chris live in this community and our mission is to assist Beaumont-Wilshire residents in the event of a major incident or large-scale disaster, whether man-made or natural. Our goal is to provide assistance to as many as possible affected by a neighborhood emergency. Specifically, we are trained in search and rescue of lightly and moderately-damaged structures; to help evacuate the injured to a medical triage site nearby; to use fire extinguishers to put out small fires; and provide basic medical first aid to neighbors in need. At the staging area, a team member and licensed Ham radio operator is charged with communicating with appropriate city emergency management coordinators.
After any large-scale emergency that affects our neighborhood, and with the assumption that professional “first responders” will not get to every neighborhood for a matter of hours or days, your local trained NET volunteers will respond to immediate needs until emergency medical technicians and fire fighters can arrive.
The plan is that the B-W NET members (those that are available in the neighborhood at the time of an event) will assess their families and immediate neighbors’ safety. If their home and immediate community are safe, each member will don their gear and walk to the established “staging area” at Wilshire Park. The purpose of our staging area will be to provide information, communication (with a Ham operator available), basic medical care and other generalized support as needed. The staging area will be a focal point where everyone who can or wishes to meet after an emergency will have a place to go.
Four staging area signs have recently been placed at Wilshire Park by Portland Parks and Recreation. They are located:
- At the south side of the park at the NE 35th Ave. walkway
- At the north side of the park at the NE 35th Ave. walkway
- At the southwest corner of the park (near NE 33rd Ave.)
- At the northeast corner of the park (corner of NE 37th Ave & Skidmore)
The park staging area signage was initially a concept and design provided by Ethan Jewett, Team Leader of Woodlawn NET. The concept became a reality due to the cooperation of Commissioner Nick Fish of Portland Parks and Recreation and Carmen Merlo of Portland Bureau of Emergency Management.
The primary training for our NET team is provided in the spring and fall by Portland Fire and Rescue, but some local community colleges do offer CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. NET training is the same as CERT training. If any of our neighbors wish to learn new skills and join our team they are most welcome. The first step to take is to call or email either Con Bricca or Chris Boeh, both co-leaders of our neighborhood NET; their contact numbers and email addresses are noted below. We are a close group and welcome newly-trained members.
Get trained and come aboard!
NOTE:
In addition to our team having two new leaders, the Portland NET community which includes neighborhood NET groups from all over Portland is now being managed by Portland Fire & Rescue. PF & R has been the primary NET trainers for many years, but will now have a more direct oversight support function of Portland NET. While NET is still under the portfolio of the City and the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, the responsibility of direct supervision and support has been bestowed upon the Fire Bureau. Lt. Matthew Silva replaces William Warren as the go-to contact for NET issues. Below is the current Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood contact information for NET leadership.
NEIGHBORHOOD EMERGENCY TEAM CONTACTS
NET Management Leader
Matthew Silva, Lieutenant
503.823.7269 Matthew.Silva@portlandoregon.gov
Beaumont-Wilshire NET Co-team Leaders:
Con Bricca 503.282.5261 (Home) 503.367.9712 (Cell) 3932 NE 36th Ave. cbricca@comcast.net
Chris Boeh Ham Operator - ke7osh 503.284.1933 (Home) 503.919.0303 (Cell) 3504 NE Alameda St. boomerbeau@comcast.net