# 2099
Submitted for your consideration: a framework for involving community volunteers in helping at the neighborhood level during a disaster.
Produced by the Lewiston - Nez Perce County Office of Emergency Management, and the Idaho North Central District Health Department - this 34 page PDF file provides an excellent template for any community to begin creating their own neighborhood disaster response.
NET, or Neighborhood Emergency Teams, are designed for an `all threats' response. Prime among those, however, is the threat of a pandemic or other communicable disease.
The ability of every community to mount a daily, door-to-door check of its citizens during a prolonged disaster such as a pandemic will be paramount if the maximum number of lives are to be saved. For most communities, volunteers will be needed.
To that end, an organized and sanctioned response is desirable.
Nez Perce County also hosts the GET PANDEMIC READY website, a valuable resource with dozens of small PDF files providing prepping advice. Highly recommended.
(Disclaimer: I was a minor participant in the creation of this site).
What follows is just a snippet from the NET guidebook, available as a PDF from the Nez Perce county web server.
First, the rationale for the creation of NET Teams, followed by the recommended `checklist' that should be followed when NET teams visit homes in a neighborhood.
The “Neighborhood Emergency Teams” (NET) guidebook which follows is one tool for your consideration. We think of it as an essential fallback resource in the hierarchy of plans.
Most jurisdictions have an “Emergency Operations Plan.” Some jurisdictions have departmental contingency plans to continue operations when business is disrupted for an extended period. The NET guidebook is a backup to contingency plans.
As designed, the booklet is used after a disaster declaration, by paired teams (city/county employee and a volunteer) who visit residents in a pre-designated area to address basic needs. This is public safety directly at the individual, family and neighborhood level. The NET guidebook is an all-hazards document, for use as needed in an event of national significance.
The NET guidebook can also be used pre-disaster both to help families prepare and to build community resilience. This is an excellent opportunity for emergency management to partner with other agencies, such as public health, for pre-pandemic community outreach.Candidate volunteers may be from Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
MASTER CHECKLIST
NOTE: Personal Protection MUST be worn by each team member. See the back of this booklet for procedures.
NOTE: Maintain a separation of six feet between you and residents you visit. Also maintain separation between yourself and your partner. Remain outdoors.
NOTE: Neighborhood Emergency Teams will always make visits in pairs. NO EXCEPTIONS.
NOTE: This manual and checklists are only to be used for pre-pandemic community outreach or upon authorization of City/County officials after a disaster declaration:
· For incorporated cities, authorization is from the Mayor or senior elected official.· For the remainder of Nez Perce County, authorization is from the County Commissioners through the Office of Emergency Management.
____ 1. Introduce yourself as a Neighborhood Emergency Team member.
· Display identification if available.
· Let residents know that you live here, you are their neighbors, and you are concerned, as their neighbors, about their welfare.
____ 2. Briefly discuss WHAT has happened and WHY you are there.· Do not disclose information about other families’ situations. Respect privacy.
· Communicate status of healthcare system and what is known about electricity, municipal water, communications, food delivery, etc.
· Stick to facts and events, not rumors.
If available hand out copies of "Stay at Home Toolkit" and topics from www.getpandemicready.org. Supplement with the tabbed checklists in this booklet.
____ 3. Do you have an emergency radio? Emergency information is provided on all local stations.
____ 4. Are you able to stay here safely for [appropriate time period...initially, the next three days].
____ 5. Do you have an emergency source of heat, or do you need information about your emergency heating options?· Review “Heat & Light” Section as appropriate.
· Followup: Do you know what to do to help prevent freezing pipes?
____ 6. Does anyone have flu symptoms or other health issues?
· If not done in advance, provide copy of “Good Home Treatment of Flu.”
· If any household member has flu, provide ORS packets, if available (14 packets per household member) and review importance of staying hydrated.
· Does anyone have special needs for medications?
· Is there a need for help – pregnant woman going into labor, very ill or injured person?
____ 7. Are you able to stay clean and manage waste disposal (toilet, etc.).
· Review “Hygiene & Waste” Section as appropriate.
____ 8. Do you have enough water and food?
· Review “Food” and “Water” Sections as appropriate.
____ 9. What is your most pressing concern?
____ 10. Is there anyone we can contact?
· to come stay with you (especially elderly, if living alone)
· work notification
· notify relatives
____ 11. (If pandemic confirmed in this area) Has anyone died?
____ 12. A resilient community is based on secure individuals and families. We will be working with you and your neighbors to find ways that you can safely help each other out. In preparation for this, please think of ways you can help:
· Room (suitable for temporary isolation/quarantine)
· Food
· Water or water purification
· Childcare
· First aid skills, baby information, breastfeeding advice, childbirth help
· Walkie talkie or phone
· Neighborhood patrols: When we’re not here, you can help by watching out for your neighbors. Be sure to stay at least six feet away from each other, to minimize chances of becoming sick.
____ 13. If you have a life-threatening emergency that is NOT the flu, AND the phones are not working, send someone to the nearest fire station.
____ 14. We will check back at least daily and will provide any new information that we have.
____ 15. We will be patrolling regularly in the neighborhood.· If you need us to contact you before our next scheduled check-in with you, please tie this orange ribbon on your doorknob, and we will stop by.
· If you prefer no contact, please tie the green ribbon on your doorknob.
This PDF also contains information on emergency heating, sanitation, and cooking, among other subjects. Some of the information provided is Nez Perce County specific, but much is universally applicable.
Lewiston-Nez Perce County, Idaho is doing what every community should be doing. They are actively educating their residents about the pandemic threat, teaching them the skills they will need to survive it, and encouraging citizen volunteers to help in a disaster.
Lewiston-Nez Perce County Idaho is lucky to have people like Melvin Johnson, Director of their office of Emergency Management, and Carol Morehrle, Director of the North Central Health Department, who worked together to produce this guidebook.
Now that their framework has been published, and made freely available to everyone, it is up to other communities to follow suit.
