Neighborhood Emergency Plans

FEMA has stated “Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors [such] as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate lifesaving and life sustaining needs.”

The PURPOSE of a neighborhood emergency plan:

  1. To account for people and
  2. Assess immediate needs in an emergency.

STEPS for preparing neighbors to take care of themselves and each other:

  1. Develop a neighborhood emergency plan.
  2. Prepare individual families.
  3. Obtain CERT training or similar training

DEVELOP a neighborhood emergency plan:

  1. Evaluate risks.
  2. Assess neighborhood needs and resources.
  3. Set up a system for reporting information and meeting needs with the people and equipment available.

For more information on CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) go to this FEMA page.