As natural disasters become more frequent and intense, government communicators must encourage, instruct, and measure indicators that neighbors have taken protective actions to prepare themselves for the hazards they face in their community.
Over the last few years, we’ve been conducting experiments using Nextdoor Polls for Public Agencies to move the proverbial preparedness needle. We’ve found that polls drive significant engagement and break through apathy and get people to pay attention and take action.
We encourage you to share one or two weekly polls on Nextdoor for Public Agencies throughout September to educate and encourage your community to prepare. Please also note you can explore our entire Content Library of suggested posts.
You can apply here if your public agency does not yet have a free Nextdoor for Public Agencies page.
General preparedness:
- Poll: Do you understand the difference between a weather Watch and a Warning?
- Poll: Is your address number visible?
- Poll: Did you know 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 an NOAA weather radio in your home?
- Poll: Do you have at least a three-day water supply 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?
Nextdoor preparedness:
- Poll: Did you know Nextdoor will pay for and mail invitation letters on your behalf to neighbors you do not know to join Nextdoor
- Poll: Have you received help from or given help to a neighbor during a disaster?
Measuring indicators of protective actions:
