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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Portland

In the event of a major disaster, your neighbors might be the ones to save you.

The city has trained a volunteer workforce

 (called Neighborhood Emergency Teams) for when the need arises. Glenn Devitt, community resilience coordinator for the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management, tells the City Cast Portland podcast all about what NETs do.

You might need some help. After all, there are more than 600,000 people within city limits and only about 700 official firefighters.

The West Coast is expecting a major earthquake. Is that what teams are ready to respond to?

These teams of volunteers have the training to respond to the Big One, but also they respond to smaller incidents, including dozens of times in the past year.

“In large part, we're finding that NETs are becoming climate emergency responders,” says Devitt.

They've been out during heat domes and last winter’s ice storm (in January) when the city shut down for six days. That time, teams worked in emergency shelters, monitored downed powerlines, and checked in on neighbors.

What will NET volunteers do in the event of the Big One?

“The first thing is make sure their family is okay — and themselves,” says Devitt.

But the volunteers will also be asked to gather within 24 hours if they can do it safely. They’ll be able to provide basic first aid, use fire extinguishers on small fires, and activate the emergency shutoffs for gas, electricity, and water (if necessary), as well as conduct basic search-and-rescue operations (they’re trained to assess if a building is safe to enter).

What’s some basic advice for people who want to help prepare?

“Store water is my first one,” says Devitt.

You need clean drinking water, “because after about three days without good water, your body starts to fail,” he adds.

The city also has a 75-minute presentation that they offer free for community groups. You can 

request that the city come train your organization

, if you’ve been inspired to learn how to volunteer with NET, visit 

 to register and apply. The next volunteer training will be in the new year.

Portland, Oregon, has trained a volunteer workforce (called Neighborhood Emergency Teams) for when the need arises — from climate disasters, earthquakes, and more

Portland, Oregon, Volunteers Respond to Climate Emergencies and Other Disasters

Portland Volunteers Respond to Climate Emergencies

What Portlanders have been wondering. We break down why things in Portland are the way they are and how they work.

Portland, Explained

Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications Senior Dispatcher Stephen Zipprich was recently named North American 911 Dispatcher of the Year. He talked with host Claudia Meza on the City Cast Portland podcast 

We've heard a ton about how Portland's emergency response has been really slow recently. From your perspective, what are you seeing?

“The caller that I'm talking to when I answer the phone, that person is my world for however long that call goes. But our phone system shows us how many calls are waiting and that can get stressful for us as call takers to see how long people have to hold. It's really heart-wrenching for us.”

What I'm not hearing is instructions on how to perform surgery or to give birth or how to not pull something out of an orifice. You're not doing these things, right?

“I could walk you through childbirth because part of our medical triage protocol is childbirth instruction. But of the three of those things, that's the only one.”

“I have two daughters. One of them's nine, one of them's five, and I get to tell them that I'm helping people and that is really rewarding.”

Inside Scoop

Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications Senior Dispatcher Stephen Zipprich, was recently named North American 911 Dispatcher of the Year. He talked with host Claudia Meza on the City Cast Portland podcast about what’s involved in the job.

Inside Scoop on Dispatching 911 Calls in Portland, Oregon

Inside Scoop on Dispatching 911 Calls in Portland

What Portland celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Portland Public Figures

3 Questions With

What would you like to change about Portland? How do you want to help? Thinking about charitable gifts has me thinking about the problems our city faces: homelessness, addiction, violence, food insecurity, mental health, racial injustice, and animal welfare to name just a few. 

There are so many nonprofits in Portland doing good work. Here are just a few categories and ideas of groups to give to this season.

The more Portland has grown as a city, and the more housing costs have risen, the more our region has seen a crisis on our streets. The pandemic has only made it worse. That has Portland pushing to outlaw street camping. There are many groups attending to people who are unhoused. Here’s one group that’s been around for a long time and seeks to make a difference for those most in need.


 works with some of the most vulnerable — particularly youth who are unhoused. They’ve been around since 1968, have a health clinic, and help with housing as well. 



Climate Change, Environment, and Ecology

Recent years have brought the effects of climate change to Portland, with a record-setting heat wave last year, and increased wildfire threats in recent summers. Just last month, we set a record for the hottest October ever. But many groups are trying to make our natural world safe for the here and now as well, including keeping our water and air clean for humans and animals alike.


 advocates for a clean river. But they keep their eye on a range of environmental issues from salmon to fossil fuels. They were 

among the groups to fight an oil terminal on the Columbia River in Washington

a Nestle water bottling plant in the Columbia Gorge

 plants trees around town. As the climate warms, it’s all the more important that cities have trees — which provide a canopy against the sun and help cool neighborhoods. And this is the group that’s doing that vital work in our city. 


Rising food costs in our community have meant more people are struggling to eat. The nonprofits fighting food insecurity are themselves facing higher costs and are in greater need of support this year.

The 

 has brought attention to the issue of food insecurity for decades, while providing resources across the state as the problem 

. They have a fun fundraiser on right now — a 

Portland loves its animals, and there is no shortage of nonprofits to support for those who want to help our furry friends. But one nonprofit stands out this time of year.

The 

 rescues cats and dogs. In fact, Portland (via OHS) 

 from across the nation because we’re such animal lovers. OHS also recently opened a vet clinic, allowing pet 

owners to pay based on what they can afford

, which is fantastic because vet bills add up. (Disclosure: I have volunteered for the group taking care of kittens too young to be adopted out.)

Nonprofits to Consider Donating to

Thanksgiving is a time of food – and gratitude.

And for many that means looking for a place to help others have a good holiday meal. Here are some places to consider making the gift of volunteer time (or monetary donations; they’re all nonprofits):

Volunteer opportunities on Thanksgiving and beyond: The nonprofit 

 has Thanksgiving Day events. Sign up as a volunteer before picking specific events.

Old Town’s 

 serves meals for Thanksgiving and beyond. They’re looking for ongoing volunteers for their organization. 


 is focused on making sure people don’t go hungry. They have a diverse set of ways to volunteer: packing up food, distributing meals, or making phone calls from home.

Another option on Thanksgiving Day itself is the nonprofit 

. They're not serving a meal that day, but instead offering some at-home options. They also note that many places that offer in-person options quickly fill with volunteers on Thanksgiving, which is heartening. There are many good people out there.

Help Your Neighbor by Volunteering this Thanksgiving

Make Portland better, one neighbor at a time. Find volunteering opportunities, ways to get involved and give back, and more.

Help Your Portland Neighbors

Help Your Neighbors

It’s time to vote — help decide the election. There are two ways to cast your ballot today:

You can still mail it in if you’re sure it will be postmarked today.

 Counties. The deadline is 8 p.m. today for a drop box.

For anyone who is holding out because of indecision, the official Voters’ Pamphlet always has surprising and helpful details. Crack open the book (that went out to you via mail). Or check it out 

 Counties have their own official pamphlets for local races.


This year, Oregon extended the deadline for voting, in one key way. Any ballot postmarked by Election Day will count. (Previously, ballots had to be received by an election office on time.)

Reader William Stephan Vertal wrote in with this question: “How is the decision made as to when to stop counting ballots?”

The answer: the new cutoff is 7 days later. Ballots have to arrive by a week after Election Day to be counted. 

For added context, it’s helpful to know that media outlets are usually able to project a winner on Election Night because enough ballots are in and counted that there is no or little chance that the results will change. (What’s reported is not official results.) But with the change to the postmark rule, that might delay results.

“It could make it more difficult for the media to project a winner in some close races because it will take longer for elections officials to count every ballot,” says Secretary of State spokesman Ben Morris.

And in the May primary, about 7.5% of ballots in Multnomah County didn’t come in until after Election Day, according to a tally by 

. It’s not clear if that pattern will hold. Stay tuned.


Help Your Neighbor: Vote

Portland, the rain has arrived by the bucketful. 

It’s coming down at the same time as the leaves. And the combo means puddles at the end of street corners that can grow to resemble small lakes. 

To solve this problem, the city pleads for help each fall. Their ask? “

 near you and help keep them clear of debris.”

The city has more than 58,000 storm drains and can’t get to all of them in a timely way.



Watch out for the miniature lakes forming on the street corners! (

Safety first. The city recommends staying on the sidewalk, wearing gloves (and not using your hands), and even putting on a reflector vest. (It’s not clear what the city advises for the vast stretches of neighborhoods with no sidewalks.)

Rakes, shovels, and brooms are advised for clearing. The debris should be cleared for 10 feet around drains.

Don’t lift the grates or try to clear below them. Instead, report all drains that can’t be easily unclogged to 503-823-1700.

A thank you to everyone who does this work already. (And no, I have no idea what to do when there’s no drain at the corner, but a puddle instead. Suggestions are welcome.)

Help Your Neighbor  Adopt The Closest Storm Drain

At Alameda Elementary, upwards of a third of the students ride their bikes (or other wheels) to school on Wednesdays. Even in this bike-loving city, that’s a lot more than usually cycle to school. Their gym teacher, Sam Balto, has organized an official weekly ride to school for more than a year now. He calls it the Bike Bus — a nod to the fact that it’s an alternative to a school bus (or their parents’ cars). He’s gotten 

, so I asked why he’s doing it and what would make cycling safer for his students.

Why do you want more kids to bike to school?

As a physical education teacher, I think it is important for children to be active. Walking or biking to school is a great way to build physical activity into your schedule.

Why does a Bike Bus encourage more kids to bike?

We are consistently doing it — weekly — and we make it fun. Lots of children and parents might not feel safe biking alone, so biking in a big group creates safety in numbers.

If you could wave a magic wand, what's one thing you would have the city, school district, or state do to get more kids to bike to school?

I would like the City of Portland to create School Streets that prevent car traffic in front of schools during arrival and dismissal [times], and implement a safety concept used widely in London called 

. They remove all traffic cutting through neighborhoods [by blocking traffic to cars at key spots or strategically making the streets one direction in key places]. Creating neighborhood streets that have no unnecessary car trips would make streets safer for children to ride to school.

3 Questions  With Alameda Elementary PE Teacher Sam Balto

It’s easy to drive through Portland or walk neighborhood streets and, quite frankly, despair.

There. Are. So. Many. Tents.

Portland and

 have done their part to pay for building housing and paying for 

. What more is there to do?

Maybe it helps to keep in mind it’s somebody’s daughter out there, somebody’s brother. Maybe it would help to try to help, as many do already. 

Here are two established nonprofits that lend a hand. The first step for each is registering as a volunteer with each: 


 a nonprofit based in Old Town, serves people experiencing homelessness, and asks for help carrying out its mission.

, which includes reading a handbook and watching training videos. After that, you can sign up for shifts.

 make meals, make your own care kits and sack lunches to donate, plus more 

 a nonprofit who serves the most vulnerable people across Oregon, also has a robust volunteer program.

 by creating a profile, passing a background check ($30-50, though there are fee waivers), and going through an online orientation. Then you can sign up for specific posts.

serve food, help out in a food pantry, buy supplies for a welcome basket for women moving into and out the Kenton Women’s village, among 

public services

Portland Volunteers Respond to Climate Emergencies

Inside Scoop on Dispatching 911 Calls in Portland

Nonprofits to Consider Donating to

Latest articles

Portland Volunteers Respond to Climate Emergencies

Inside Scoop on Dispatching 911 Calls in Portland

Nonprofits to Consider Donating to

Help Your Neighbor by Volunteering this Thanksgiving

Help Your Neighbor: Vote

Help Your Neighbor Adopt The Closest Storm Drain

3 Questions With Alameda Elementary PE Teacher Sam Balto

Latest articles

Help Your Neighbor by Volunteering this Thanksgiving

Help Your Neighbor: Vote

Help Your Neighbor Adopt The Closest Storm Drain

3 Questions With Alameda Elementary PE Teacher Sam Balto

How to Help Neighbors Experiencing Homelessness