Presentation Requests

Community members wisely place confidence in NETs' knowledge and abilities, and often request presentations about emergency preparedness. This is a guide for handling various kinds of requests.

One of NETs' most important "blue skies" preparedness tasks is delivering all-hazard preparedness education, and empowering neighbors to develop their own plans.

Requests for too-short presentations

Sometimes groups ask for a 15-minute presentation about how to prepare for emergencies. That simply is not enough time.

What to say: ‘Spending only a few minutes on this important topic is not worth either of our time, and probably will not save any lives in an emergency. I would not want to create more questions than I answer, or provide a false sense of security by merely checking a couple of boxes.’

Most people understand and appreciate this immediately. If someone pushes back, your answer does not change. Consider something like, ‘I am delighted that you understand how critical emergency preparation is. And I appreciate your urgency and limited time. But like any useful education, delivering this information properly requires a little time. In fact the presentation we offer could easily fill an entire afternoon, but we have refined and compressed a LOT of information into those 60-75 minutes, and I promise that attendees will be inspired to take action!’

If they are adamant, you certainly may choose to refuse. Or, you may try to convert this into an opportunity to promote the NET and BEECN programs and recruit. Then finish with an offer to return another time to provide the hourlong Emergency Preparedness for You, Your Family, and Your Community presentation; see below, NETs empower through education, not individualized solutions.

Requests for Specific Advice

• "Where should I go after an earthquake?"
• "Can you create our business/school/family evacuation plan?"
• "What exactly do I need to have in my personal kit?"

These kinds of questions seek instant answers, but conditional analysis is required. Providing that kind of individualized advice is not the purview of NETs. (Nor PBEM.) This is not intended to be mean or lazy, but we need to reframe the approach. It is fantastic that your neighbors have trust in you to ask! However, NETs are trained to do the greatest good for the greatest number. Your team may, of course, choose to support any plan that a business, school, or other organization develops – if you decide to make response to them part of your team’s ops strategy among other competing interests, and if you consider their plan to be safe, and if scene size-up during an emergency establishes that it safe for you to respond.

Indemnification and Liability

This is a good time to recall the fact that if you were not trained to do something by PBEM, you are not indemnified for it.’ Providing detailed advice about family reunification? Seismically retrofitting a building? Describing how to chainsaw a tree? Nope, none of the above.

Specific emergency planning for business or school entities involves COOP (Continuity of Operations Planning), which is a distinct specialty; see Additional Resources below. Private entities must make their own determinations for their emergency assessments and plans, and assume responsibility and liability. NETs (and most PBEM staff) are not generally qualified to offer specific technical or strategic advice, so it would be inappropriate to do so.

Constructive ways to decline providing individualized advice

What to say:

• ‘We cannot possibly understand all of your operational needs – and some of them are probably confidential. Therefore we are not qualified to offer specific advice.'
• ‘There are many factors that affect emergency response planning. As volunteers, we are trained to provide solid foundational education about emergency preparation, not specific solutions for any organization. We will help you help yourself!’
• ‘You are the person who is ideally suited to plan for the safety of your [students/family/colleagues]. And I want to provide holistic information so that you can figure out what is best for them in any situation.’

NETs empower through education, not individualized solutions

• What to say: ‘Based on our successful experience with organizations like yours, the best next step for your audience is to schedule our free, 60-75 minute interactive presentation titled Emergency Preparedness for You, Your Family, and Your Community.’ (Note the emphasis on Community. This is not how-to advice about building a bunker.)
• This presentation is the cornerstone Speakers Bureau product. It is is best delivered in-person for a close-knit group, but also can be delivered online.

How the public can request a presentation

If at all possible, please channel requests through PBEM by providing this link: https://pbem.link/eprep

When the request is received, PBEM will pass it along to the nearby Team Leader(s). You may also instruct the requestor to mention your name in the comment box on the form.

Why use the form?

1. It collects all the logistical information you will need.
2. It logs the request for program performance metrics to support budget requests. Requests that are not counted are not funded

Presentation Blurb

Title

Emergency Preparedness for You, Your Family, and Your Community

Sample blurb

Be prepared, not scared! A representative of the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) will present simple, inexpensive ways to prepare for emergencies ranging from severe weather to a major earthquake. During this engaging session we will discuss making plans for home, work, and school; creating go/stay kits; storing water and food; home retrofitting; multifamily buildings; emergency sanitation; and more. You also will learn about optional volunteer opportunities to serve your neighbors during an emergency by receiving additional training from PBEM and Portland Fire & Rescue.

Logistics

• Delivery method: Virtual or in-person (up to you)
• Time required: 60-90 minutes, depending on how many great questions the audience has!
• Group size: Minimum 10, maximum unlimited (or up to you)
• Location: PBEM can only accommodate requests within the City of Portland

Public request form

See above, How the public can request a presentation

Presentation handouts

Please review the List of Materials and use the Request Form.

Additional Resources

Small Organizations & Businesses

• FEMA: Ready for Anything: Preparing Your Organization or Small Business for the Unexpected with FEMA’s Resources
• Items collected on the Tumblr

Schools

• FEMA: Ready Kids: Educators & Organizations
• FEMA: Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans
• Items collected on the Tumblr

Houses of Worship

• FEMA: Guide for Developing High Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship