Disasters are Easier to Weather Together
As this paper on the recovery impacts after Hurricane Sandy demonstrate, communities that already have bonds established are more likely to recover and to recover faster than areas of isolated individuals. Portland has resources like PBEM, NET, and community-based organizations that focus on disaster recovery, but in large disasters, friends, family, and neighbors end up being the first responders for the majority of residents.
This summer, several events are happening in the Sullivan's Gulch Neighborhood to help you and your neighbors meet each other, prepare your homes for the unexpected, and learn how to collaborate during disaster scenarios.
Prepare Fair & Disaster Sing-a-long - Aug 22, 2026
There will be a Prepare Fair from 4:30-6:30pm before Professor Apocalypse's Disaster Sing-a-long premiers for free at Holladay Park on August 22nd at 6:30pm.
The Prepare Fair will have organizations that will be sharing resources and information related to emergency preparedness, including a table for learning more about the Sullivan's Gulch Block Captain Program and emergency water storage giveaway (while supplies last).
Professor Apocalypse's Disaster Sing-a-long is a family friendly show that teaches how to prepare and respond to all sorts of emergencies, including flood, fire, winter storms, earthquake, and more. Each section includes lecture, recounting of lived experience, and educational spoofed songs (if Weird Al Yankovic was a prepper, these are the songs he would write).
Community Resilience Workshop - Sep 5, 2026
A neighborhood-oriented emergency preparation class. Includes PBEM-produced workbook, resources, and more. Learn about preparing your family and home for a variety of emergencies, including earthquake, fire, and winter storms. Be prepared and be part of the solution.
Please register ahead of time here: http://www.sullivansgulch.org/forms/crw-sep-5-sign-up
Gulch-O-Rama - Sep 12, 2026
The premiere Sullivan's Gulch block party of the summer. We will be joining this community gathering to provide preparedness resources, recruit for the block captain program, and hand out resources such as the water jug giveaway to help you prepare!
Block Captain Kick-off - Sep 27, 2026
We are launching a Sullivan's Gulch Block Captain Program, based on Irvington's design, so that each block in our neighborhood can prepare to help each other and coordinate with NET to get the help and resources needed during emergencies. Please register ahead of time here: http://www.sullivansgulch.org/forms/block-captain-interest-form