Because of tremendous needs following a catastrophic event, first responders may not be immediately available to assist communities. Residents and communities may have to rely on themselves and their neighbors for several days. Having a Neighborhood Disaster Plan will greatly assist communities to respond to and recover from such an occurrence.
The City of Los Angeles has made it simple for you to create your own neighborhood disaster plan using the 5 Steps to Neighborhood Preparedness Toolkit. By taking the first step to review this important set of resources, you can put your neighborhood in a better position to prepare for and bounce back from disaster. Get started today by viewing the “5 Steps to Neighborhood Preparedness” video.
After you review the video, visit www.5Steps.LA and learn how you can create a neighborhood disaster plan.
The 5 Steps are:
Step 1: Define Your Area
Identify a manageable area, your apartment building, one city block, a few small surrounding streets, etc, that you can organize with relative ease.
Step 2: Recruit Leaders
Develop a team of leaders who can help build the plan and carry out emergency support activities when the time comes.
Step 3: Scout Your Area
Get to know the lay of the land: what resources you have, what the landscape is, and disasters or other emergencies common to your area.
Step 4: Build Your Team
Find out who lives in your area, how they can help in a disaster, and who may need extra help.
Step 5: Plan Your Approach
Create a plan that outlines what your neighborhood will do before, during, and after a disaster!
Learn more about the 5 Steps to Neighborhood Preparedness at one of the free Educational Workshops across Los Angeles or download the 5 Steps Toolkit.
