In your neighbourhood

Local help can be invaluable in an emergency.  Your neighbourhood will have people with a variety of skills and resources that can be used in an emergency. 

By pooling and sharing, you and your neighbours should be able to provide for basic needs and assist those who may require extra help.

Be prepared.  Discuss with your neighbours what issues you may face, and what resources and skills you have as a group before an event. 

Develop and distribute a simple neighbourhood plan so everyone is aware of neighbourhood strengths and weaknesses.

Neighbourhood plan

The essential elements of a neighbourhood plan are outlined below:

Before an emergency:

• get to know your neighbours.  Join or set up a neighbourhood support group
• keep a register of the useful skills your neighbours have
• keep a register of the tools or resources your neighbours have (eg. barbeques, tools, equipment)
• keep a register of those neighbours who have special needs
• distribute the register to all neighbours and keep it up to date
• nominate a place where the neighbourhood can meet after a disaster.

After an emergency:

Neighbourhood support group members should:

• establish their own and their family’s safety
• assist their immediate neighbours
• report to the neighbourhood pre-arranged meeting place
• form search and rescue teams with a minimum of 3 people in each
• search the neighbourhood and rescue anyone who is trapped
• ascertain injuries and apply first aid where possible
• mark each house with a large ‘X’ on the main entrance after the search
• keep a written record of each house searched
• monitor radio broadcasts
• nominate someone to report to the nearest Civil Defence Centre.