Severe Weather Shelter Shifts
What are Severe Weather Shelter Shifts?
When severe weather hits Portland, NETs may be deployed to assist at emergency weather shelters which are run by Multnomah County and/or the City of Portland. Various roles might be available depending on need. Some shifts involve direct service to shelter guests. Others might be shelter set-up and demobilization, when guests are not in facilities. Roles can include:
- General Staff Volunteers (most common)
- Passenger Transportation Volunteers
- Logistics Volunteers
- Behavioral Health Specialist Volunteers
- Person-in-Charge (PIC)
How Does Severe Weather Shelter Deployment Work?
This is an evolving process, and this page will be updated as needed. Currently, a typical scenario goes as follows:
- Multnomah County decides that the weather forecast meets their thresholds to open emergency shelters. Usually, the County then issues an emergency declaration.
- Typically, the County then issues a request for shelter staff to the City of Portland.
- The City, through PBEM, begins by recruiting paid City workers to fill shelter shifts in various roles.
- If the need for staff is expected to exceed the number of County and City staff available, PBEM will recruit NETs to fill the gap.
- If NETs cannot fill all needed shifts, public recruitment might be initiated.
What Training is Required for NETs or the Public to Volunteer in Shelters Serving Guests?
For all General Staff, Person-in-Charge (PIC), and Behavioral Health Specialist Volunteers who will interact with shelter guests, Multnomah County requires:
- Bloodborne Pathogens for Emergency Shelters (Approximately 30 minutes to review)
- Disaster Resource Center Online Videos (Approximately 3 hours)
- If you are unable to watch all the videos in this playlist, at minimum please watch the Portland NET/TPI Intro to warming shelter video (Approximately 10 minutes)
- Naloxone Training - Opioid Overdose (30-45 minutes to watch videos and read the content)
Note: These and other support position roles may have additional recommended training. Review them here.