Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) is a unique program designed to help neighborhoods prepare for disasters. When a crisis occurs, those closest to you may be your greatest help. Emergency personnel may not always be able to immediately assist your area. Being prepared and taking the right course of action within the first few minutes and hours after a disaster may help protect and save lives.

The Map Your Neighborhood program walks you and your neighbors through a simple step-by-step process to customize an emergency preparedness plan for your area.

How to Get Started
A wonderful benefit of the Map Your Neighborhood program is it’s a great way to get to know or reconnect with your neighbors. More than just a quick wave across the lawn, you’ll be working together and learning how to protect your families, friends and property.

A peer-led program, we ask interested association leaders or residents to attend the Leaders Training Session provided for free by OKOHS. During this session they learn how to organize a neighborhood meeting to work through the MYN discussion guide and DVD. Leaders are encouraged to limit the size of their neighborhood “group” to 15 to 20 households in urban areas (a typical neighborhood block) or 5 to 6 households in a rural area. Limiting the number of households helps maintain effective communication. However, this program is also applicable for those living in apartment complexes or condominiums.

After completing the Leaders Training Session, neighborhood representatives are requested to schedule their Neighborhood Meeting within the following 90 days.

During the neighborhood meeting, participants will:

• Learn the “9 Steps to Take Immediately Following a Disaster”
• Identify the skills and equipment each neighbor has that would be useful in a disaster response
• Create a Neighborhood Map identifying location of natural gas and propane tanks
• Create a contact list to help identify those with functional needs (ex. seniors, children)
• Learn how to work together as a team to evaluate their neighborhood during the first hour following a disaster

We never know when a crisis may occur, whether it’s a natural or man-made disaster or an act of terrorism, but we do know that being prepared is the first step toward a better outcome. The first hour following a disaster is critical for survivors. The Map Your Neighborhood program provides the resources needed to make neighborhoods Red Dirt Ready for any disaster.

For more information about scheduling a Leaders Training Session in your area, contact the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security here.