Know the resources around you, including agencies and groups that provide safety training. Be a resource to someone else who may need help preparing. During a major disaster we will depend on each other.
  • Get connected with your community
  • meet-neighborConnect with your neighbors to help each other
    • Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together during an emergency.
    • Find out if anyone has specialized equipment like a power generator, or expertise such as medical knowledge, that might help in a crisis.
    • Decide who will check on elderly or disabled neighbors.
    • Make back-up plans for children in case you can't get home in an emergency.
    • Sharing plans and communicating in advance is a good strategy.

Ways to meet your neighbors without knocking on the door:
  • Notice when new people move in. Stop and introduce yourself.
  • Walk your dog or a friend’s dog. You often see the same people out side over and over again. Greet them with your eyes, a smile and a head nod. After a few times, you might stop and introduce yourself or chat about the neighborhood.
  • Work in your front garden. Water your plants regularly. You’d be surprised how many of your neighbors you will see through out the week.
  • Do a home repair project on your front lawn. The more interesting the project, the more likely your neighbors will actually stop to ask you about it.
  • Take a child for a walk. Kids are also great conversation starters. They often lead the way in “making new friends”.
  • Host a garage sale on your front lawn. When neighbors stop, notice what stuff they are interested in. You might have a hobby or interest in common.
  • Offer to lend a hand. If you see someone raking leaves, or shoveling snow, give them a hand.
  • Smile, smile smile. Smiling at someone says "I'm interested in connecting."
  • If all else fails, you can always go use the 1950s classic “meet your neighbor technique”, knock on the door and ask to borrow a cup of sugar!