Emergency protocol for wards/neighbourhoods

[Bini]

I know emergency kits aren't new things but what about emergency protocols for the neighbourhood? Do any of your wards do this? And does it extend outside of your membership? I have more questions but I'll start here.

[Guest]

Yes.  We have neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Plans in place for Hurricanes here in Florida.

 

All active EQ members have their sections of the neighborhood that they are responsible for.  Each of these sections have a list of resources - who has a chainsaw, who has 72-hour kits, etc. - an evacuation plan, etc. etc.  The Emergency Plan is aligned with the Red Cross.

 

A couple years ago, the YM/YW went door to door with the Red Cross to give each household a copy of the Red Cross Plan.

Edited January 21, 2016 by anatess

[pam]

Our ward has pretty much the same thing that anatess mentioned.

[Guest]

Have you heard of CERT?  As preparedness lead in my Colorado ward, I got certified there.  Here in Texas I'm on the team.  The EP leads are the ones who teach the CERT classes here.  My wife got certified.

 

This way we get coordinated on a civic as well as a ward and stake level together.

[NeuroTypical]

I got CERT certified years ago, and my ward was advertising it in Relief Society a while back too.  It's good basic stuff to know, even if people don't get themselves organized.

 

My ward actually got evacuated a few years back due to forest fire, and we lost half a dozen houses or more.  There was much effort from many ward members and leadership, but nothing incredibly organized.  I remember sitting there listening to the radio, and got a call from the Stake emergency communications person, who had been told I was the Ward emergency communications person.  It was news to me, but I was willing to help.  He told me he was activating the emergency comm plans, but he didn't know what that meant, and didn't have anything to communicate.  That was the last I heard from him.

 

Something I learned - every plan ends the second something happens, and new plans spring up as needed.  No matter what your protocols are supposed to be, make sure you do the following, in order:

 

Help make/keep yourself safe.

Help make/keep your family safe.

Help make/keep your neighbors/HT-VT families/ward safe.

Edited January 21, 2016 by NeuroTypical

[mirkwood]

We have a written plan for the wards and stakes.  What are you looking for?