ATVs (affiliated trained volunteers) are people who volunteer to affiliate with Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) because of special skills or resources they have and want to share in the event of a disaster. While NET members are trained by the City of Portland as citizen emergency responders, ATVs have gained relevant expertise through their life experiences -- professions, hobbies, families, etc. By connecting with you now, in non-emergency times, Hillsdale NET aims to build a more resilient community during times of crisis.
If you become an ATV, you will receive an ID card from Portland's Bureau of Emergency Management (PBEM) after they do a background check. This will allow you to be recognized by NET members in your neighborhood as a skilled volunteer during disaster response. If you wish, you will also receive the same weekly bulletins about training and volunteer opportunities that PBEM sends to its NET volunteers. You will also be contacted by Hillsdale NET for a short orientation and for ongoing opportunities to practice disaster response with the team.