Neighbourhood resilience

In large-scale disasters, your neighbours are the first responders. Organising your neighbourhood for emergencies can save lives before firefighters, paramedics or Civil Protection arrive.

In major disasters, emergency services may take hours to arrive. Your neighbours are the real first responders.

After a strong earthquake, a flood or a large fire, rescue teams become overwhelmed. Most successful rescues in the first hours are carried out by neighbours and community members. Preparing together multiplies everyone's capacity to respond.

4-week programme for a resilient neighbourhood

1

Week 1: Recruit organisers

Recruit 3 to 6 neighbours interested in organising neighbourhood preparedness. A casual 30-minute meeting is all you need to introduce the idea and assign initial tasks.

  • Speak to neighbours from different buildings or streets
  • Explain the goal: preparedness, not panic
  • Set up a communication group (WhatsApp, Signal or a phone tree)
  • Schedule the next meeting for the following week
2

Week 2: Map your neighbourhood

Work together to identify people, skills, resources and risks in your neighbourhood. This mapping forms the foundation of your entire community response.

  • Who has first aid or medical training?
  • Where are the elderly residents living alone and people with reduced mobility?
  • What resources are available (generators, tools, medical kits)?
  • What are the specific risks in your area (older buildings, flood-prone zones)?
3

Week 3: Assign roles and practise communication

Assign specific roles to each volunteer, test the communication system and confirm the emergency meeting point.

  • Distribute the 6 neighbourhood roles (see next section)
  • Test the phone tree or messaging group
  • Confirm the primary and alternative meeting points
  • Share emergency contacts with all participants
4

Week 4: Mini drill

Run a 20-minute practical exercise to test the plan. It does not need to be perfect. The goal is to find gaps and improve.

  • Simulate a simple scenario (e.g. earthquake with power cut)
  • Activate the phone tree and check response times
  • Practise checking on vulnerable neighbours
  • Gather at the meeting point and do a brief debrief
  • Record what went well and what needs improvement

6 neighbourhood roles

Coordinator

Leads operations during the emergency. Serves as the contact point with authorities (firefighters, Civil Protection, parish council) and makes decisions when needed.

  • Keeps the contact list up to date
  • Acts as the liaison with local authorities
  • Coordinates task distribution during the crisis

Communications

Manages the phone tree and, if available, PMR446 radio. Ensures information flows between all group members and that nobody is left without news.

  • Activates the communication chain as soon as there is an alert
  • Confirms that all members have been contacted
  • Reports to the coordinator who has not responded

Vulnerable persons check

Physically checks on elderly residents, people with reduced mobility, pregnant women and families with small children. Ensures everyone is safe or identifies who needs help.

  • Has the address list of vulnerable neighbours
  • Knocks on each door after the alert
  • Reports situations requiring specialist assistance

Logistics and supplies

Coordinates distribution of water, food, generators and other shared resources. Knows where the mapped neighbourhood resources are located.

  • Maintains the community resource inventory
  • Organises sharing of water and food if needed
  • Coordinates the use of generators and tools

Animals and special needs

Handles pets that need rescue or shelter. Also addresses specific needs such as special medication, medical equipment or particular dietary requirements.

  • Knows which neighbours have pets
  • Is aware of the mapped special needs
  • Has contacts for nearby vets and pharmacies

Backup

Steps in for any of the other roles in case of absence, illness or unavailability. Knows the duties of every other member.

  • Attends all meetings and drills
  • Has copies of all lists and contacts
  • Is prepared to take on any role at short notice

What to map

Resources

Identify the resources available in your neighbourhood that can be shared in an emergency.

  • Fire hydrants: locations of hydrants and external taps
  • Generators: who has one and what is its capacity
  • First aid kits: who has one and where they are kept
  • Tools: crowbars, axes, ropes, ladders
  • Fire extinguishers: locations of accessible extinguishers

People

The most valuable resource in your neighbourhood is the people and their skills.

  • Medical training: doctors, nurses, first aiders
  • Reduced mobility: people who need help to evacuate
  • Elderly living alone: without nearby family who can help
  • Technical skills: electricians, plumbers, volunteer firefighters
  • Languages: neighbours who speak other languages (useful with tourists or immigrants)

Risks

Every neighbourhood has specific risks that should be identified in advance.

  • Fragile buildings: older constructions without seismic reinforcement
  • Flood-prone areas: streets or basements that flood in heavy rain
  • Unstable trees: large trees near buildings or roads
  • Hazardous materials: workshops, garages storing fuel

Reference points

Define meeting points and exits known to everyone.

  • Primary meeting point: open space, away from buildings (square, park, field)
  • Alternative meeting point: in case the primary one is inaccessible
  • Emergency exits: routes out of the neighbourhood in different directions
  • Shelters: schools, community centres, churches that can serve as temporary shelter

Printable templates

Support materials for your neighbourhood

  • Phone tree: template for distributing the contact chain among neighbours
  • Resource map: template for recording resources, risks and reference points in your neighbourhood
  • Role cards: laminated card with each role's responsibilities, contacts and emergency procedures
  • Vulnerable persons checklist: form for recording and checking on neighbours who need support
  • Drill report: template for recording results and improvements after each exercise

Connecting with the Portuguese system

Municipal Civil Protection

Contact your local Municipal Civil Protection Service to inform them about your neighbourhood plan. Many municipalities have programmes to support organised communities.

  • Inform them about your group and the plan you have created
  • Ask for guidance on specific local risks
  • Request integration into the municipal emergency plans

Parish council (Junta de Freguesia)

The parish council can provide logistical support and make community spaces available for meetings and drills.

  • Request a space for group meetings
  • Ask for help spreading the word among neighbours
  • Identify available community resources

Volunteer firefighters (Bombeiros Voluntarios)

The volunteer fire brigade in your area can collaborate with training and joint exercises.

  • Request basic first aid training
  • Join exercises organised by the fire brigade
  • Ask for guidance on evacuation routes for your zone

Municipal emergency plans

Every municipality has a Municipal Emergency Plan that can be consulted. Learn about the officially identified risks for your area.

  • Check your local council website
  • Identify official risk zones and shelters
  • Learn the planned evacuation routes
  • prociv.pt for national information