NELLIE GAIL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN

It is important that Nellie Gail Ranch residents be prepared for possible disasters or other emergencies which can strike suddenly and at any time. Cities are mandated to prepare disaster emergency plans to allocate and dispatch emergency services such a fire, police, rescue services etc. However, in the case of major emergencies there is little that government and other agencies, such as the Red Cross, can do during the first 24-72 hours because of disruptions in communications and transportation. Most help will come at the community level where neighbors will help neighbors provided they are prepared to give that help. Neighbors Helping Neighbors has developed a 5 step preparedness plan and a meeting agenda form so people can implement the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program in their neighborhood. One form of a Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program also was displayed in the last two issues of the “Pony Express” and an article about this program was also featured recently in the Orange County Register.

Given the importance of early emergency preparedness the Board of Directors adopted in a general way the Neighbors Helping Neighbors approach at its March Board Meeting with encouragement of individual home owners to “be a neighborhood instigator” in their own neighborhood. As a “how to” aid to homeowners and to facilitate communication, the Board of Directors has authorized the creation of a “Homeowners Emergency Preparedness Committee” to be Chaired by Dr. Bryant Rossiter, a long-time resident of Nellie Gail. Please direct inquiries to him at 643-2015 or bwr@ni.net.