Heat Smoke Fire Annual Dispatch: Difference between revisions
From Portland NET Wiki
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Climate change events are steadily taking the foreground as the most widespread life safety threat in the Portland Metro region. The purpose of this page is to help NET volunteers track | Climate change events are steadily taking the foreground as the most widespread life safety threat in the Portland Metro region. The purpose of this page is to help NET volunteers track information and resources year to year concerning extreme heat events. Extreme heat events cause heat-related illnesses and deaths, wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires, and wildfire smoke inundation. This page is also intended to clarify the role of NET volunteers in responding to extreme heat events. | ||
This article is divided into two sections: perennial (or "evergreen") resources, and summer to summer breakdowns for situational awareness. | This article is divided into two sections: perennial (or "evergreen") resources, and summer to summer breakdowns for situational awareness. | ||
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:''See also: [[Severe Weather Operations: Heat]]'' | :''See also: [[Severe Weather Operations: Heat]]'' | ||
NETs keeping themselves safe is particularly true for ''any'' deployment during the summer (whether the deployment itself is heat related or not). Volunteers accepting an assignment during hot weather should | NETs keeping themselves safe is particularly true for ''any'' deployment during the summer (whether the deployment itself is heat related or not). Volunteers accepting an assignment during hot weather should review the Wiki article linked above, and must complete the annual Heat Illness Prevention Training [https://bit.ly/3Phz63J in MIP under Opportunities > Basic NET Training]. (NETs who are City of Portland employees must complete the training in City Learner instead, and then [Mailto:net@portlandoregon.gov?subject=Heat Illness Prevention Training completed in City Learner email] their proof of completion.) | ||
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NETs act as PBEM's community ambassadors. We encourage NETs who are also leaders in their community to promote heat/fire/smoke safety in their communities through social media and community meetings. The most appropriate public-facing information to promote in communities is found on PublicAlerts.org, where there are individual pages for [https://www.publicalerts.org/wildfire wildfires], [https://www.publicalerts.org/wildfire-smoke wildfire smoke], and [https://www.publicalerts.org/heat extreme heat]. | NETs act as PBEM's community ambassadors. We encourage NETs who are also leaders in their community to promote heat/fire/smoke safety in their communities through social media and community meetings. The most appropriate public-facing information to promote in communities is found on PublicAlerts.org, where there are individual pages for [https://www.publicalerts.org/wildfire wildfires], [https://www.publicalerts.org/wildfire-smoke wildfire smoke], and [https://www.publicalerts.org/heat extreme heat]. | ||
We encourage NETs to promote PublicAlerts.org pages at the start of each summer, and at any time we anticipate a heat, fire, or smoke event. | We encourage NETs to promote [https://www.publicalerts.org/understand-hazards PublicAlerts.org] pages at the start of each summer, and at any time we anticipate a heat, fire, or smoke event. | ||
==== Burn Bans and Red Flag Warnings ==== | ==== Burn Bans and Red Flag Warnings ==== | ||
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* Multnomah County has a perennial page for [https://multco.us/info/wood-burning-restrictions wood burning restrictions]. Wood burning is restricted to mitigate poor air quality. | * Multnomah County has a perennial page for [https://multco.us/info/wood-burning-restrictions wood burning restrictions]. Wood burning is restricted to mitigate poor air quality. | ||
* The City of Portland has a page for [https://www.portland.gov/fire/burn-ban-status burn ban status]. This is not the same as a wood burning restriction; burn bans are placed in effect during hot and dry weather conditions to reduce fire risk. | * The City of Portland has a page for [https://www.portland.gov/fire/burn-ban-status burn ban status]. This is not the same as a wood burning restriction; burn bans are placed in effect during hot and dry weather conditions to reduce fire risk. | ||
* Wikipedia has an article on Red Flag Warnings, and you can monitor whether one is in effect for Portland through the [https://www.weather.gov/pqr/ NWS page for Portland]. | * Wikipedia has an [[wikipedia:Red_flag_warning|article on Red Flag Warnings]], and you can monitor whether one is in effect for Portland through the [https://www.weather.gov/pqr/ NWS page for Portland]. | ||
==== Public Safety Power Shutoffs ==== | ==== Public Safety Power Shutoffs ==== | ||
When temperatures are high '''''and''''' winds are high, utility companies may | When temperatures are high '''''and''''' winds are high, utility companies may implement a public safety power shutoff (PSPS) to proactively de-energize the grid to help prevent wildland fires. Advance notice to affected customers is provided, if possible. If NETs receive questions about PSPSs, we encourage volunteers to direct folks to [https://portlandgeneral.com/outages-safety/public-safety-power-shutoffs Portland General Electric's official PSPS page]. | ||
==== Firework Safety ==== | ==== Firework Safety ==== | ||
