Neighborhood plan
In a big disaster, neighbors are the first responders. An hour together now makes the first hour afterward much safer.
Most neighborhoods will be on their own for the first hours, days, or even weeks of a major disaster, so the people next door are the real first responders. WA EMD (opens source in a new tab)
Get started
- Map Your Neighborhood, a program developed in Washington State, organizes groups of 15 to 20 homes you can visit in about an hour. WA EMD (opens source in a new tab)
- Make a list of neighbors' skills and equipment, a map of gas meters and propane tanks, and a contact list that flags older neighbors, people with disabilities, and children who may be home alone. WA EMD (opens source in a new tab)
- Pick a gathering site everyone can walk to. WA EMD (opens source in a new tab)
The first hour after a disaster
Map Your Neighborhood's nine steps, as adapted by the Carbondale, Illinois Fire Department: Carbondale FD (opens source in a new tab)
- Take care of your loved ones.
- Protect your head, feet, and hands.
- Check your natural gas or propane.
- Shut off water at the house main.
- Post a HELP or OK sign where it can be seen.
- Put your fire extinguisher on the sidewalk.
- Go to your neighborhood gathering site.
- Form teams.
- Return to the gathering site to share what you did.
Train with your community
- CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training teaches basic response skills for when professional help isn't immediately available; the basic course runs 24 to 30 hours. Be Ready Utah (opens source in a new tab)
- Utah's Division of Emergency Management keeps a list of local CERT programs and their contacts. Utah DEM (opens source in a new tab)
- Be Ready Utah also offers a Neighborhood Rapid Disaster Assessment Toolkit. Be Ready Utah (opens source in a new tab)