Join or start a local group

 

Join or start a local group to get your community prepared

Organised communities can do many things beyond the power of unorganised groups, because they have coordination, special skills, and equipment. The challenge for communities in the event of a disaster is to gather people together quickly, to get people and necessary equipment to the effected area, and to function as an organised group, through good communication, leadership and division labour, under difficult circumstances.  

Form a task force. Together, you can make decisions about the best way to protect yourselves that fit your lifestyle, environment, and local risks. A cohesive community makes the job easier for everyone. Invite neighbours to a taskforce meeting, where you can determine who have special skills and who might need additional help. Form groups based on skills, physical ability, and organisational experience and allocate responsibilities Perhaps one group can be responsible for securing outdoor furniture and other outdoor items, while another can go door-to-door before an emergency to check on households that might need additional help.

Additional activities that your community groups should consider:

  • Make plans with more vulnerable members of the community
  • Establish telephone trees to communicate to group members during an emergency
  • Work out new ways to share information such as social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter
  • Organise bulk buying of equipment, personal protective clothing, and other necessary items
  • Organise neighbourhood working bees to prepare each other's properties
  • Have street meetings, walk throughs, and property inspections, to objectively identify potential hazards
  • Identify neighbourhood safe meeting points

Benefits of working together before, during and after an emergency event:

  • Get to know your neighbours
  • Share ideas and experiences
  • Be part of a group that is united and motivated towards safety
  • Gain safety knowledge in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere
  • Learn what you can do to make your home and property safer
  • Prepare yourself and family both emotionally and physically
  • Know where you can access other information before and during an emergency event
  • Learn how you can prepare an Emergency Plan, 72-hour Emergency Kit and Evacuation Kit for your household