Preparedness starts with you.
Join or create a
When we work together to prepare, we transform our neighborhood into a responsive, resilient community.
When disasters happen and people need help and assistance, neighbors turn to neighbors. Connect now with the people around you and don’t wait until disaster strikes to meet each other.
Know your neighbors
The most important step you can take to get through times of disaster and stress is to connect. Neighbors who know each other will help each other when there is a need.
A Neighborhood Response Group can be 2 households or a group of 10-15. They could be homes on your street or a floor in your apartment building.
Take this opportunity to knock on some doors, introduce yourself and begin forming your Neighborhood Response Group.
Get together
Gather for coffee or maybe a Block Party and share contact information to start your group.
Neighbors who share information now will know who might need help later, such as the elderly or those with disabilities.
Keep it cold and keep it charged!
For example, knowing who has medical equipment that needs to be properly charged and medication that needs refrigeration in a power outage, will go a long way to ensuring your neighbors’ health and safety.
Learn more about free emergency planning and resources for our neighbors with disabilities at MarinCIL.org.
Do what works for you
Some groups just want to share information and encourage each other to prepare knowing they will help each other when there is a disaster.
Others want to take it a step further, have a clear plan, share a neighborhood supply cache, learn to use hand-held radios, conduct an exercise drill or coordinate a fire extinguisher event.
There is no right or wrong way to organize, just do what works for your group.
A few block captains can help steer the ship
A Neighborhood Response Group benefits from a few Block Captains (or coordinators) who volunteer to help organize meetings, collect shared information, reach out to new neighbors and participate in preparedness training. In the event of an emergency, it’s likely not everyone will be home at the same time, so the more people who know what to do, the better.
Remember it’s not a lifetime commitment and Block Captains can rotate. Find what works right for you and your group.
Build neighborhood resilience
Once you have formed a group it’s time to improve skills and knowledge of how to respond in an emergency. An educated, trained community will be more resilient when disaster strikes. Reach out to your local emergency preparedness manager for training opportunities.
Find or Start a Group
Throughout Marin there are people in the role of emergency coordinators and preparedness managers. Some regions have a person specifically assigned to help organize and support Neighborhood Response Groups.
From the list below, find your City or Town and contact the person who can help you start a group, tell you if there is a group already formed, and include you in activities to increase your preparedness! We are all in this together!
| Location | Name |
|---|---|
| Southern Marin: Sausalito, Marin City, Tamalpais Valley, Mill Valley, Strawberry, Tiburon, Belvedere | |
| Central Marin: Corte Madera, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield | |
| Ross Valley: Ross, Fairfax, San Anselmo, Sleepy Hollow | |
| West Marin Bolinas, Dillon Beach, Inverness, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Olema, Point Reyes Station, San Geronimo, Stinson Beach, Tomales | |
| San Rafael | |
| Novato |