Facebook
X
Pinterest
Copy Link
Emergency Preparedness Bainbridge Island
How to stay up-to-date with relevant information from Bainbridge Island public safety departments and schools
It is always a good idea to be prepared for an emergency- no matter where you live or work. The Bainbridge Island Fire Department has a great system to educate our Island for how to prepare for an emergency. Emergency Preparedness Bainbridge Island
I live in-town and have 3 residential streets in my “Emergency Neighborhood”. We plan a meeting once a year and make it an educational potluck. I introduce myself to the people who may have moved into our little neighborhood since the last meeting and invite them to come and provide information about what Map Your Neighborhood is all about.
This information directly from the BIFD site as they have a lot of experience with the Map Your Neighborhood program. I encourage you join in your neighborhood meetings, or start one if it does not already exist.
www.bifd.org/map-your-neighborhood
Map Your Neighborhood will help you to:
- Learn the steps to take immediately following a disaster to secure your homes and protect your neighborhood.
- Identify the skills and equipment each neighbor has that are useful for an effective and timely disaster response. Knowing which neighbor has supplies and skills helps your disaster response and allows everyone to contribute in a meaningful way.
- Establish a neighborhood contact list that helps identify those with specific needs such as the elderly, disabled, or children who may be home alone during certain hours of the day.
- Work together as a team to evaluate your neighborhood during the first hours following a disaster and take the necessary actions to care for yourself and your neighbors.
Ready to get started?
- Review the Map Your Neighborhood meeting guide. A quick review will increase your comfort level with the idea of organizing your neighbors and explain the program.
- Contact alesage@bainbridgewa.gov to make arrangements for MYN representatives to make a presentation to your group. If you live in a larger neighborhood, consider limiting the meeting to less than 20 homes.
- Host your MYN meeting. The MYN meeting is designed to bring together neighbors to discuss plans for taking care of themselves during a disaster when emergency responders may not be able to help them. During this time, neighbors can share information about resources they can utilize together and therefore care for their neighborhood.
- Encourage the other nearby homes/streets to conduct their own MYN meeting after you’ve had success with your immediate neighbors. A neighborhood’s resources can be shared with other neighborhoods to help in the recovery effort.
What is NIXLE?
NIXLE is a free notification system used by the City of Bainbridge Island and the Fire Department to advise subscribers of road closures and detours due to vehicle collisions or other emergent issues. Sign up today at www.nixle.com and get real time updates on your cell phone, email, or both. It’s free!
