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When a disaster does occur, it will
take the cooperative effort of all elements of our communities to
restore a normal state for all concerned. The greatest resource
for any community is its people. The purpose of this site is to
increase citizen, family, neighborhood, and community preparedness,
thereby boosting their chance of survival and enhancing their ability
to cope with disaster.
Follow this easy five-step guide for
organizing your community. Meeting with your neighbors to plan how
the neighborhood can work together before a disaster occurs will
lessen the impact of any disruptions. Pulling together will also
give your neighborhood a sense of resilience and strength in the
face of uncertainty.
- - Invite
your neighbors to dessert and coffee, a pot luck dinner, a BBQ
or other get together to discuss emergency preparedness. Everyone,
including children and the elderly, can be encouraged to participate.
- - At
the meeting, welcome everyone and invite them to have something
to eat or drink before settling down. Take a few minutes for introductions.
Discuss people's questions and concerns.
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Identify those in the neighborhood who are vulnerable (sick, elderly,
pregnant, disabled). Discuss how the neighborhood can watch out
for these individuals in the event their friends and relatives
can't reach them. Next, learn your neighbors' skills. Who is a
doctor, nurse, plumber, carpenter, mechanic, electrician, teacher,
etc. Ask people to list their skill on a neighborhood skills inventory
form, and then distribute it to everyone in the neighborhood.
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- Make sure everyone is aware of basic personal preparedness guidelines
suggested by FEMA and the Red Cross. The more individuals and
families are prepared, the better shape your neighborhood will
be in. Set additional meetings to work through the details.
- - As
your neighborhood's team leader, keep a positive can-do attitude
and keep people motivated to work together to prepare. Learn about
how to build your neighborhood team.
For more ideas on how to organize your neighborhood and help your
community before disasters strike, contact the Merriam Fire Department
at (913) 322-5530.
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