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In disaster situations, neighbors will be the first ones to check on each other, identify problems and be the source for immediate aid. Knowing your neighbors in advance of an emergency can help you identify who will need help first, who might have children home alone due to working parents, and alert you to potentially anxious pets.
Knowing what to do in the first hours of a disaster response may help to save a life, reduce the severity of possible injuries, and reduce the amount of damage the neighborhood sustains. In addition, contributing as an individual and working together as a team helps develop stronger communities and improve the quality of life in the community.
Do you know your neighbors -- their names, phone numbers, email addresses?
What skills, knowledge, and equipment do your neighbors have that would be helpful in the event of an emergency situation? Examples:
Skills/Knowledge: First Aid, Search & Rescue, Crisis Counseling, Plumbing, Carpentry, Electrical, Fire Fighting, Coordinating & Organizing, Child Care
Equipment/Supplies: First Aid, Tents/Camping, Chain Saw, Generator, Ladder, Fire Extinguisher, Walkie-Talkie, Strong Rope, NOAA Weather Radio
Create a map showing the locations of any propane tanks and/or natural gas meters. Who knows how to shut them off?
Who knows how to shut off the water at the street, and has the tool(s) to do so?
Start small. Introduce yourself to your immediate neighbors, start a conversation about emergency preparedness, and together, develop a plan.
“Emergency preparedness is a team sport.” . . . . Eric Whitaker
The Map Your Neighborhood program guides you and your neighbors through simple steps to help enhance your preparedness for an emergency. These steps will help you to quickly and safely take actions that can minimize damage and protect lives. It is designed to improve disaster readiness at the neighborhood level and teaches neighbors to rely on each other during the hours or days before fire, medical, police or utility responders arrive.
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