Your Community

Emergency Preparedness

Guide Book

EMERGENCY PLANNING AND BIO-TERRORISM

PROTECT YOURSELF, PROTECT YOUR NEIGHBOUR

     Establish a neighbourhood phone or visiting tree prior to an emergency.

     In these times of busy schedules and hectic lives, neighbours don't necessarily have the time to get to know one another, as they may have in years gone by.  Some preliminary work now to 'get to know neighbours a little better' may make coping with an emergency easier for everyone in the neighbourhood.

     Creating a neighbourhood phone tree can provide neighbours with some peace of mind that they will be contacted by someone following an emergency that affects those living in the immediate neighbourhood.

     It can be a formal arrangement that spells out which neighbour you should contact and what action you should take, or it can be quite informal, stating simply that each neighbour should call those living on either side of them to check that everything is okay.

     Communities that have existing Neighbourhood Watch programs already have basic information about those living in their neighbourhood.

     Small modifications can be made to add information that may be helpful in an emergency and to identify which neighbour will check in with the other.

     In the event that the emergency involves the telephone lines, arrangements can be made to touch base with neighbours in person.

     Those living in rural areas may have greater distances to cover to ensure that all is well with those nearby.

     Everyone in the neighbourhood will benefit when they know that someone will check on them or their property in the event of an emergency.

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