Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Plan

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

Sarasota County Emergency Management has created a disaster preparedness program for neighborhood associations to engage residents in assisting each other in times of disasters. Through this neighbor-helping-neighbor program, neighborhoods develop a self-sufficient program that includes an incident command structure, a listing of resources available within the neighborhood, resident information, damage assessment forms and a direct communication link to the Emergency Operations Center. Emergency Management staff is available to the neighborhoods to assist not only in the development of the plans, but also to participate in the testing of the plans. Once organized, these neighborhood preparedness teams are capable of taking care of their residents until professional responders arrive. If a neighborhood conducts a training drill to test their disaster plan, Sarasota County Emergency Management presents the neighborhood with a Strom Wise certificate. This certificate identifies a neighborhood as a partner with Emergency Management because they have tested their plan and are now prepared for a storm event. The outcome objective of the program is to assist neighborhoods in proactively taking the necessary steps to prepare themselves to respond to the effects of natural disasters and other emergency events rather than waiting for government or another entity to do it for them.