Winter Weather and NETs: Policies, Processes, and Procedures

This article covers, as comprehensively as possible, all policies/processes/procedures related to NETs deploying in response to winter weather. The audience for this article includes both NETs and City of Portland employees.

Background

NET volunteers have an historic role responding to inclement winter weather, and have served in a variety of positions. In winter events from 2013 to 2025, NETs have:

Event		NET Shifts Filled
	# of volunteers deployed/ est. volunteer hours	Warming Facility	Homeless Services Support	EOC	Down Powerline	Snow Angel	Windshield Assessment
2025 February Storm	18 NETs / 34 hours				15	1
2024 January Winter Storm	106 NETs / 209 hours	2	7	10	36		61
2023 January-February Cold Snaps	56 NETs / 440 hours	26	54
2022 December Winter Storm	59 NETs / 382 hours	8	77		17
2022 April Surprise Snow	33 NETs / 122 hours		14		25
2022 February Cold Snap	20 NETs / 124 hours	14	11
2021 December Winter Storm	111 NETs / 842 hours	79	113
2021 February Snow	99 NETs / 319 hours	4	34			41
2020 December Cold	8 NETs / 28 hours		8
2020 January Cold	2 NETs / 8 hours	2
2019 Thanksgiving Winter Storm	15 NETs / 73 hours	16
2019 March Winter Weather	10 NETs / 77 hours	14
2019 February Winter Storm	24 NETs / 120 hours	24
2018 February Winter	17 NETs / 85 hours	17

Policies for NET Deployment

Never share volunteer PII

Appropriate Deployments

Remember FLSA...nothing anyone would be paid for, paid employees take the first shifts when OT is offered

Only PBEM deploys NETs

Safety

Nothing they haven't been sufficiently trained for (which is subjective, but still...)

Make winter weather appropriate clothing a factor of their PPE

Consider PPE carefully for each deployment

Someone with PBEM MUST BE be established for PAR for non-shelter and non-EOC deployments (ideally for all winter weather deployments)

Clear NET deployments with Safety Officer and also inform FPN leadership

To broaden deployments, PBEM should purchase key PPE as resources allow for NETs (e.g. snow/ice traction devices)

Travel considerations/night security

General Winter Weather Prep for NETs

Set a kickoff date (mid November)

Update Everbridge

Initial kickoff communications, prep gear, make sure your family is good, comms with neighborhood/neighbors

Storm drain clearing

NETs Responding in the EOC During Winter Weather

Assistant EOC Manager

Deputy Planning Section Chief

Deputy Logistics Chief

Food Unit

Situation Unit Staff

Documentation Unit Lead

Documentation Unit Staff

Note-takers

Resource Unit Lead

NETs Responding to Warming Facilities

x

NETs Responding to Down Powerlines

x

NET Snow Angels

x

NETs Supporting Homeless Services

Warehouse logistics

Remote dispatch