September is National Preparedness Month, and it’s time to start planning with your neighbors.
Led by our partner, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Preparedness Month is dedicated to educating and empowering Americans to prepare for emergencies that may take place in our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities. All month long, we’ll be featuring content to help you and your neighbors plan for any emergency, big or small.
Our thoughts are with the neighbors impacted by Harvey, Irma, and Maria. To support recovery efforts, please visit the Red Cross.
In moments of natural disasters, we tend to rely most on those that are nearby. Throughout Nextdoor’s history, neighbors have proven time and time again that the most prepared and resilient communities are those that are most connected. Part of this connection comes from giving back and being involved in your local community.
To strengthen your connection to your neighborhood in the face of emergencies, FEMA recommends the following:
- Make sure your campus, business, faith-based organization, and any other community organizations are prepared for any emergency
- Join Weather Ready Nation to stay up-to-date on all weather forecasts
- Sign up for Ready Business Workshop to address the potential hazards your business may face
Strong neighborhood connections in emergency situations have proven to be invaluable among neighbors on Nextdoor. In 2015, when wildfires spread across the Los Angeles area, a local neighbor, Jim, took to Nextdoor to keep his neighbors up to date and informed about the fires that were threatening their neighborhood.
“I’ve never been one to be considered a huge neighborhood advocate, but after coming across Nextdoor, I realized the importance a site like this could have in building a stronger neighborhood,” said Jim. “With the fires that forced my neighborhood to evacuate our homes, my neighbors turned to Nextdoor to send and receive up-to-the-minute information on the fires.”
Using Nextdoor was especially critical, Jim noted, since many residents had not signed up for the reverse 911 calls from the city. He credits Nextdoor for helping keep the neighborhood aware, informed, and ready to spring into action if necessary.
We hope you and your community are feeling more prepared now, at the end of National Preparedness Month. From all of us at Nextdoor: stay safe!
Join your neighborhood on Nextdoor here.
Do you have a story about how you’ve used Nextdoor in your neighborhood? Let us know.
Leave a Comment