A Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (NESS) is made up of individuals and neighbours working in partnership towards emergency preparedness.  Those who have experienced a disaster personally, or who have seen such events reported in the media, have witnessed the way in which neighbours naturally come together to help one another.  A team of neighbours with a variety of skills will cope easier and begin the process of recovery faster than individuals struggling on their own.
Depending on the scope of the disaster in the Alberni Valley, we may be on our own for an extended period.  Local governments may be occupied restoring infrastructure, ensuring public health and finding resources to begin the monumental task of recovery on a municipal level.  Reception centres and group lodging facilities will be part of this, but as I've mentioned in previous posts, these areas will be crowded and stressful.  Planning now with your neighbours will make it likely you can stay in or near your home, surrounded by people you know and are comfortable with.
The first step in the process of setting up a NEPP is to get together as neighbours.  As many communities have learned from other neighbourhood programs such as Block Watch, just getting to know the people in the neighbourhood can make a difference.
A NEPP team can be organized in a variety of ways, depending on the skills available and the resources and special needs of the neighbourhood.  Every neighbourhood has useful resources, including human skills and physical materials.  The challenge is identifying them so that they can make the greatest contribution to the neighbourhood's needs.  Think about your neighbours.  There may be someone who works in construction and is skilled in damage assessment.  Or someone who has experience in first aid.  A couple of homes might have generators.  Some residents might prefer to stay home and take care of young children or the elderly while others go outside to assess damage, clear debris or help with rescue efforts.
Many good deeds following a disaster are carried out by neighbours and passers-by.  Taking some time now to think about who is best qualified and equipped for which task can greatly assist a neighbourhood's ability to survive a disaster without having to wait for help from outside the Alberni Valley.
There are resources available to help you and your neighbourhood prepare a plan.  For more information on where to find them, or to arrange a presentation for your neighbourhood group on how to begin, give me a call or an email and  we'll get started.