Public Safety Campaign for Nextdoor
Partners,
Help keep your residents safe this fall and beyond with the emergency preparedness polls below. Share one or two polls a week on Nextdoor throughout September to educate and engage the community.
Messages to share during National Preparedness Month
General preparedness:
- Poll: Do you understand the difference between a weather Watch and a Warning?
- Message: Are your house numbers clearly visible from the street?
- Poll: Did you know Nextdoor will pay for and mail invitation letters so you can invite your neighbors to join Nextdoor?
- Poll: Have you received help from or given help to a neighbor during a disaster?
- Poll: Did you know that most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding?
- Poll: When did you last check your insurance deductible?
- Poll: Did you know flooding is the second-leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.?
- Poll: Do you have a NOAA weather radio in your home?
- Poll: Do you have at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your household?
- Poll: Do you have enough nonperishable food to feed your household for a week?
- Poll: Do you have enough battery power, or the ability to generate power, to stay safe and healthy during an outage lasting more than seven days?
- Poll: Do your family members know how to get in touch with out-of-state contacts?
- Poll: Have you identified more than one way to leave your neighborhood in an emergency?
- Poll: Do you have a go kit?
- Poll: Since participating in our recent discussions and polls, which option best describes the actions you’ve taken to better prepare yourself and your household?
Poll: Do you understand the difference between a weather Watch and a Warning?
For “Ask a question”: Do you understand the difference between a weather Watch and a Warning?
For “Add a poll description”: A Watch means all the ingredients necessary for a weather event to happen are available, and you should keep an eye out. A Warning means that a weather event is here or near, and you should take shelter now.
If you have other tips, add them in the comments. Please also consider sharing the message via the “Share” button below.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, and thanks for the reminder
- No, I did not, but I understand now
Message: Are your house numbers clearly visible from the street?
Subject: Are your house numbers clearly visible from the street?
Dear neighbors,
When you have lived at the same address for a number of years, you rarely pay attention to your house numbers (address).
But in the event of an emergency, when every second counts, responding police officers, EMS, and firefighters will locate you easier and faster if you have clearly visible house numbers.
Make it a point to LOOK at your house numbers to see if:
✅ All of the numbers are still there
✅ They are large enough to be seen easily from the street
✅ No landscape vegetation has grown over them limiting their visibility
If you can see them, so can we, and we thank you!
If not, then we can’t either. Please take steps today so we can find you should you need us in an emergency.
Add any other tips you have in the comments, and please help get the word out by sharing this message via the “Share” button below.
Poll: Did you know Nextdoor will pay for and mail invitation letters so you can invite your neighbors to join Nextdoor?
For “Ask a question”: Did you know Nextdoor will pay for and mail invitation letters so you can invite your neighbors to join Nextdoor?
For “Add a poll description”: During an emergency or disaster, you and your neighbors might need to serve as one another’s first responders. Being able to communicate with each other is key. To help ensure more neighbors are connected, Nextdoor will pay for and mail invitations on your behalf to neighbors you do not yet know. You can learn how to send invitations here → https://help.nextdoor.com/s/article/How-to-send-postcard-invitations
If you have other tips, add them below in the comments. Please also consider sharing the message via the “Share” button below to get the word out.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, and I regularly send out invitations to help build resilience in our community
- Yes, but I haven’t sent out invitations yet
- I did not, but I now plan to send out invitations to my neighbors
- I did not, and I am not interested in sending out invitations
Poll: Have you received help from or given help to a neighbor during a disaster?
For “Ask a question”: Have you received help from or given help to a neighbor during a disaster?
For “Add a poll description”: Pick an option below, and share your experience in the comments along with any suggestions you have for your neighbors. By normalizing asking for and offering help, more people will get the assistance they need when disaster strikes.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, I have
- No, I have not
- I do not recall
- Other — please explain in the comments
Poll: Did you know that most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding?
For “Ask a question”: Did you know that most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flooding?
For “Add a poll description”: Flooding is one of the most costly types of damage to a home, but many people are unaware the damage is rarely covered by traditional homeowners insurance. If you reside in a flood-prone area, you need a separate flood insurance policy to protect the cost of replacing or repairing your home and belongings.
If you have been personally affected by flooding, share your experience and any lessons you’ve learned with your neighbors in the comments.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, I did
- No, I did not
Poll: When did you last check your insurance deductible?
For “Ask a question”: When did you last check your insurance deductible?
For “Add a poll description”: Homeowners insurance policies often have different deductibles — the amount you pay out of pocket — depending on the type of loss. Some of these can be several thousand dollars. The time to find out the amount of your deductible is now, not when you have a claim. Pick the option below that best reflects the last time you checked your deductibles.
If you have other tips, add them in the comments. Please also consider sharing the message via the “Share” button below to get the word out.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Last month
- A few months ago
- Last year
- Years ago
- I have never checked my insurance deductibles
- I do not have homeowners insurance
Poll: Did you know flooding is the second-leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.?
For “Ask a question”: Did you know flooding is the second-leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S.?
For “Add a poll description”:
Neighbors,
It’s true, flooding follows heat as the №2 weather-related killer in the country. On average, flooding claims the lives of 95 people each year. More than half of all flood-related deaths are drownings that result from vehicles caught in floodwaters and swept downstream. Many of these drownings are preventable. Avoid putting yourself and others in danger: Never drive or walk through flooded roads or sidewalks.
People often underestimate the power of flowing water. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving floodwater can knock an adult off their feet. Most vehicles begin to lose contact with the road in 6 inches of water and can be swept away in 12–18 inches of flowing water. This includes pickups and SUVs.
When approaching a flooded roadway remember, Turn Around Don’t Drown!
Have you been caught in a flood, or do you have a tip for your neighbors? Share in the comments below.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, I did
- No, I did not. Thanks for the info!
Poll: Do you have a NOAA weather radio in your home?
For “Ask a question”: Do you have a NOAA weather radio in your home?
For “Add a poll description”:
Weather radios broadcast continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. You can select the type of broadcasts you want to hear including daily forecasts, severe weather warnings, watches, and other hazard information. Let us know if you have one.
And help get the word out by sharing this message via the “Share” button below.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, I do
- No, I do not
- I don’t, but I will get one!
Poll: Do you have at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your household?
For “Ask a question”: Do you have at least a three-day supply of water for each person in your household?
For “Add a poll description”:
If the pipes in your home freeze, the electricity goes out and you have a well, or if there is a major blackout and your utility company is unable to pressurize water throughout your community, you will need 1 gallon of water per person per day for both drinking and sanitation. At the minimum, you should have a three-day supply of water on hand. If possible, consider storing enough water to last your household a week or more.
Please pick the option below that best fits your level of preparation.
Add any other tips you have in the comments, and please help get the word out by sharing this message via the “Share” button below.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, we do
- Not yet, but we plan to stock up
- No, we do not
Poll: Do you have enough nonperishable food to feed your household for a week?
For “Ask a question”: Do you have enough nonperishable food to feed your household for a week?
For “Add a poll description”: Following a disaster, power outages can last days and you may need to rely on shelf-stable foods that do not require refrigeration or cooking. It’s recommended that you have enough food to feed each person in your household for a week or more and a manual can opener.
If you answer “yes” below, share what’s in your emergency food supply and any tips you have for your neighbors.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, we do
- No, we do not
- No, but we will start purchasing one or more extra items a month
Poll: Do you have enough battery power, or the ability to generate power, to stay safe and healthy during a power outage lasting more than 3 days?
For “Ask a question”: Do you have enough battery power, or the ability to generate power, to stay safe and healthy during a power outage lasting more than 3 days?
For “Add a poll description”:
Having backup battery power will allow you to let family and friends know you are safe, and if needed, be able to call 911 and receive critical emergency notifications such as Tornado warnings.
Pick one option, and if you select “yes,” please share any tips you have with your neighbors in the comments. And help get the word out by sharing this message on your other social channels using the “Share” button below.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, we do
- No, we do not
Poll: Do your family members know how to get in touch with out-of-state contacts?
For “Ask a question”: Do your family members know how to get in touch with out-of-state contacts?
For “Add a poll description”: In an emergency, it’s essential that you and other members of your household have a central point of contact who lives outside the disaster zone. If you become separated and local phone lines are jammed, you can call the contact person with your status and check on others.
Consider giving each member of your household small cards with the contact person’s name and number, or create a group list on mobile phones and other devices.
Add any other tips you have in the comments, and please help get the word out by sharing this message via the “Share” button below.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, we do
- No, we do not
- No, but we will work on pulling this together
Poll: Have you identified more than one way to leave your neighborhood in an emergency?
For “Ask a question”: Have you identified more than one way to leave your neighborhood in an emergency?
For “Add a poll description”: If your first choice for evacuation is blocked, have you identified more than one way to leave your neighborhood?
Pick an option below, and if you select “yes,” share any tips for finding alternative routes in the comments. And please help get the word out by sharing this message via the “Share” button below.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- Yes, I have
- No, I have not
- No, but I will do so in the next few days
Poll: Do you have a go kit?
Screen capture taken from https://www.ready.gov/kit
For “Ask a question”: Do you have a go kit?
For “Add a poll description”: In the event of an emergency, you may not have time to find or collect essential items in a hurry. A go kit is a collection of basic items, such as prescriptions, blankets, family documents, extra food and water for pets and individuals, first aid supplies, etc., assembled and ready to go in the event of a quick evacuation. Consider your family’s unique needs when creating your kit. For more information and suggestions, visit https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit
If you have other tips, add them in the comments. Please also consider sharing this message via the “Share” button below to get the word out
For “Add a choice”:
- Yes
- No
- Not yet, but I will put one together in the coming days
Poll: Since participating in our recent discussions and polls, which option best describes the actions you’ve taken to better prepare yourself and your household?
For “Ask a question”: Since participating in our recent discussions and polls, which option best describes the actions you’ve taken to better prepare yourself and your household?
For “Add a poll description”: Our goal is to ensure you are informed about the hazards you face and the actions you can take to prepare yourself and your family.
Please pick the option below that best describes the actions you’ve taken to better prepare yourself and your household.
For “Add a choice” fields:
- I/we have taken MANY of the actions you’ve suggested
- I/we have taken SOME of the actions you’ve suggested
- I/we have taken NONE of the actions you’ve suggested
