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WHAT IS A NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK?

• A group of residents, usually organized by street, who come together to devise a plan of action in the event of a disaster. The plan may include the rescuing of pets, turning off utilities, retrieving items of value or sentiment, caring for children, and more.

• A phone list is created that includes ways to get in touch with each other at home, work, car, or school.

If the phone system is out (which is likely in a major disaster), other methods of communication are available in the canyon via FRS radios. The cost of an FRS radio is around $15 - $20 each and can be purchased from electronics stores such as Fry's, Radio Shack, Comp USA, etc.

WHAT DOES A NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK COORDINATOR DO?

• organize informal meetings with neighbors (once or twice a year) to discuss emergency prepardness

• update phone lists

• develop plans in the event of a disaster

Should a disaster occur, the Coordinator is the main contact between the T-CEP Neighborhood Network Liaison (NNL) and the neighborhood.

Coordinators receive accurate and timely information directly from the NNL regarding road closures, direction of the fire, locations of evacuation shelters, areas that are most threatened, etc. Coordinators then, in turn, communicate that information to their neighbors via the phone list.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATOR?

Coordinators should be people who are:

• Leaders or someone who enjoys bringing neighbors together

• Persons who are at home most of the time or work in the canyon . In a disaster, a Coordinator who is at his or her office in Downtown LA probably won't be able to do much to help around the neighborhood. Communication is the most important aspect of the Coordinator's job. Sometimes two people have offered share the job as Coordinator(s). Not only can they share the responsibilities but they can also cover for one another during vacations or when one is out of the Canyon.

• Persons who can spare a few hours each year to keep the interest and momentum going and the phone lists updated.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE ORGANIZED AND WORKED TOGETHER?

Just as every neighborhood in the Canyon is unique and vastly different from one another, so are the approaches to organizing and preparing for a disaster. Here are some ideas from other neighborhoods:

• Create a plan; a way to communicate with one another for help, to offer assistance, and to provide information during a disaster - a calling tree, for example.

• Create a phone list and distribute to each home on the block or neighborhood. Some lists contain only names and phone numbers, while other lists include pet's names, diagrams showing gas and electric shutoffs, hose bibs, and fire hydrants.

• Organize "buddy systems." Some neighborhood buddies have taken a tour of each other's properties to point out where everything is located, i.e. water mains, electrical boxes, etc. Some neighbor's provide their buddy with a key.

• Organize or attend First Aid and CPR classes. Some residents have even gone through extensive Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training (see Teams and Team Leaders ).

• Organize into teams or groups responsible for a specific duty, e.g. First Aid, search and rescue, heavy equipment, horses or small pets, taking care of children (so everyone else can do their jobs without worry), etc.

HOW CAN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD GET STARTED?

• Call the T-CEP hotline 310-455-3000 and receive a packet of information that will walk you through each step making it easy for you to get started.

Part of the job of the T-CEP Neighborhood Network Liaison is to lend support in whatever way possible and to share ideas and information about what other neighborhoods have done to get prepared. No one wants to face their neighbors after a terrible disaster and say, "why didn't we get our act together before this happened?" That's why it's so important for everyone in your neighborhood to come together and start putting plans in place now. Make it a block party so that you can make it fun as well as productive and informative. Click here for Team & Team Leaders.