Palisades Neighborhood Association

Spring Preparedness in the Palisades: A Timely Reminder After Last Night’s Outage

Published March 30, 2026

Written by: David Westerdahl, PNA Area 12 Representative, Board Member and Emergency Prep Coordinator

I’m writing this in mid-March after our home lost power last night.

It wasn’t dramatic. No downed trees in our yard. No major storm cell overhead. Just a sudden flicker—and then darkness. Wi‑Fi out. Refrigerator humming to silence. Phones already below 40%. It was restored within a few hours, but it was a useful reminder: even short, routine outages quickly expose how dependent we are on electricity.

As we head into spring in the Pacific Northwest, this is the perfect time for Palisades neighbors to refresh emergency plans before summer wildfire season and before next winter’s storm cycle. While national headlines may focus on hurricanes or international instability, our most likely local risks remain extended power outages, wildfire smoke, severe winter storms, landslides, and the long‑standing Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake threat.

Power Outages: The Most Likely Disruptor

Last night’s outage was minor. But what if it had lasted 24–72 hours?

A few questions immediately come to mind:

  • How much water do we actually have on hand?
  • How long would refrigerated food stay safe?
  • Are backup batteries charged?
  • What about neighbors who rely on powered medical equipment?

For Palisades residents, a realistic goal is preparation for at least 72 hours without power, ideally up to 5–7 days. That includes:

  • One gallon of water per person per day
  • Shelf-stable food
  • Flashlights (not just phones)
  • Battery packs or power stations
  • Safe generator planning (never indoors or in garages)

Even a brief outage highlights gaps. Ours certainly did.

Wildfire Smoke Season Is Not Far Off

Now is the time to replace HVAC filters, identify a “clean air room” in your home, and consider a portable HEPA unit if you do not already have one.

Smoke events don’t usually feel urgent until they are already here. Preparation in April feels optional. In August, it feels essential.

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Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) Project Coordinator

Primary Role:

  • Handles NEP grant applications, grant approvals, reviews receipts for reimbursement and is the single point of contact between the entire Palisades Neighborhood Association (PNA) and the City.
  • To be successfull in this role you should be organized, communicative.
  • Time commitment: From 8-12 hrs. throughout the year

Process:

  • Accepting NEP proposals: Anyone living in the Palisades Neighborhood Association can submit proposal(s) to the NEP Coordinator along with estimated costs throughout the year. They should follow the application guidelines and answer the questions related to their proposal.
  • PNA Board will Vote on Which Items To Include in our NEP Proposal: During the month of March PNA board meeting the NEP Coordinator asks the board to vote on the proposed item(s). NEP Coordinator encourages person(s) proposing the item(s) to attend the meeting to answer questions that might come up. The PNA board then votes on which items should be included in the NEP grant proposal.
  • Developing and Submitting the NEP Grant Proposalt: During the NEP grant proposal period (usually the month of May) the NEP Project Coordinator:
    • Fills out the NEP grant proposal application based on items approved by the PNA Board;
    • Gets sign offs from the PNA Chair
    • Submits the proposal form to the city in early May for the initial review process
    • Provides additional information requested by the city
    • Revises and submits the final application to the City by the deadline (typically May 31).

What Happens Next:

  • Iris McCaleb from the City forwards the NEP grant proposals to the grant review committee and then to the City Council who review it and awards certain grants.The NEP Coordinator will receive a letter of award from the City and will share it with the PNA Leadership Team.
  • As items are purchased from the approved grant list, the project close-out form is filled out by the person requesting reimbursement. They will attach digital copies of receipts and photos and then submit all to both the NEP Project Coordinator and the PNA Chair. The NEP Project Coordinator submits the reimbursement request to Iris at the City for reimbursement.
  • Reimbursement checks are then sent directly to the person who purchased the item(s).