Part of the Plan is the Office of Emergency Management’s monthly video series where we open our public safety plans and partnerships. Something we value at OEM is informing and including the public as to your roles in our plans. You are the Public in Public Safety. This month, we talk to the Executive Director of the Deaf Hearing Communication Centre, Neil McDevitt, on the critical importance of including neighbors in your emergency plans.
by Neil McDevitt, Executive Director, Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre | September 20, 2018
Neighborhoods are the fabric of communities, building a block-by-block support system for people to look out for one another.
During emergencies, like severe weather, you often hear “Be a good neighbor, check on yours.”
Often, during an emergency, your neighbors are your first-responders, providing aid until help arrives.
Neighbors helping neighbors isn’t just the charitable thing to do, but it’s also a way to make sure people are able to remain self-sufficient and independent for as long as they can.
During a big snowstorm, I helped clear my elderly neighbor’s driveways not only because I wanted to be nice, but because I knew that by clearing their driveway, they could continue to independent and would rely less on others for their daily needs.
But for people with disabilities, they need to be proactive in communicating their plans in emergencies with their support network.
But this often requires thinking about what needs to happen when their traditional every day support network is unable to help.
For example, if they have an oxygen concentrator and are dependent on power to keep their device charged, a neighbor may be the only person who can help transition to a backup oxygen cylinder when the power has failed.
By spending 10 minutes to train a neighbor and 5 minutes to make the transition, we’re able to keep someone safe in their home, and free up ambulances and hospital beds for people who truly need them.
Checking on your neighbor doesn’t always require specialized knowledge or a lot of time; it just requires some planning ahead.
Take the time now to get to know your neighbors and their needs, and let them know what you need!
An essential way to be prepared is to stay informed. Get emergency alerts from OEM’s ReadyPhiladelphia program sent to your phone or email to keep you informed prior to and during an emergency.
