How to Participate in Map Your Neighborhood

When you have a disaster, natural or manmade, happen to your area, what would you do?

Greg Hempen, the state’s trainer, provides information sessions about the program and helps residents set up their MYN for their neighborhood.

Hempen said he likes to train groups, such as neighborhood associations, churches or other small groups where he can speak at one time. The one-hour orientation provides materials and teaches participants more about the program.

From there, participants should review materials, such as the neighbor form and DVD provided, and choose a meeting date when their neighbors could attend. MYN suggest 15-20 households for an urban area to host a meeting.

From there, the neighbors would conduct a 90-minute meeting to review the procedures of MYN and find out information about each neighbor, things they have that could be vital in a disaster (such as a generator) and if anyone has any medical conditions or needs. A master contact list would also be made during the session. 

Hempen said there’s a nine-step system in case of a disaster for neighbors, including the following.

1. Take care of your loved ones.
2. Protect your head, feet and hands.
3. Check your home’s natural gas or propane.
4. Shut off water at your home’s main, if appropriate.
5. Place the HELP or OK sign on your front door or window.
6. Put your fire extinguisher on the sidewalk.
7. Go to the Neighborhood Gathering Site.
8. Form teams to: listen to the radio for alerts; check on elderly, disabled and children; check for gas and propane leaks; and, check homes with HELP cards and those with no cards posted.
9. Return to Neighborhood Gathering Site to share what has been done.

For more information on MYN, contact Steve Besemer, steve.besemer@sema.dps.mo.gov or Greg Hempen, greg.hempen@urs.com.