Portola Valley emergency committee splits communications work, sets steps on resilience and severe‑weather planning

Portola Valley Town's Emergency Preparedness Committee moved on multiple fronts at a regular meeting, deciding to keep technical communications responsibilities with the existing communications subcommittee while expanding outreach into a separate group to promote AM1680 and community emergency information.

The committee's chair proposed two broad approaches for Priority No. 2 — keep one communications group to handle equipment and operations while assigning outreach and promotion to a separate body, or retain a single group to do both. Members said the technical work for the AM1680 emergency radio and day‑to‑day equipment maintenance is distinct from public information and promotion. "We could revitalize posting to the PV Forum and get our voice out there," a member said during the discussion.

The committee agreed to preserve the equipment‑oriented communications subcommittee and to expand or reactivate an outreach or neighborhood/resident outreach subcommittee to handle promotion, website enhancements and regular public information. Lynn Eisberg was added to the outreach subcommittee; new member Fred Meyers, who introduced himself to the committee, said he would learn more before volunteering for a leadership role. "I moved to Portola Valley a little over a year ago and I'm excited to get started," Meyers said.

Members also discussed technical improvements to AM1680 outreach: drafting message templates for triggering broadcasts and exploring technology that can relay National Weather Service alerts to the committee's AM1680 equipment. Committee members suggested the vendor used for the radio equipment may support automated triggers tied to official weather warnings.

On severe‑weather preparedness, the committee described the work as exploratory and emphasized the need to coordinate with town staff. Kim Cashen noted forthcoming emergency operations plan annexes that will address severe‑weather procedures and recommended public outreach (forum posts, AM1680 messages, and signage at town entrances) as the committee's likely focus. Members recalled a previously developed checklist used by town staff and suggested asking the town manager for the existing materials rather than recreating them.

To move work forward more quickly, the chair proposed — and members approved — that a small group of experienced EPC volunteers brief the town manager (Darcy) about the committee's past work, existing resources (including a neighborhood resource guide), and realistic next steps; the chair said they would try to arrange that meeting within about 30 days. The committee also empowered a small safety/resilience subcommittee (the chair, Marian and Dale) to review the town council's resilience/safety list, meet with Craig Taylor and recommend which items EPC could adopt and advance in Q2 2026.

In other business, the committee approved the previous meeting's minutes (one abstention), Lynn Eisberg announced that the EOC now has newly supplied vests in the correct colors for each section, and the chair said EOC procedures will be finalized after incorporating communication‑section revisions. The committee confirmed its next forum check for April 2 before adjourning.

The committee's next steps are: the outreach subcommittee will seek additional volunteers and lead AM1680 promotion; the small EPC team will meet the town manager to align staff capabilities and volunteer roles; and the safety/resilience subcommittee will report back to the council subcommittee with recommended items and a proposed schedule.