Our yearly Disaster Drill will be held on Sunday October 18, We have conducted Map Your Neighborhood training in more than 25 MYN Blocks to promote “neighbor helping neighbor” response in a widespread disaster.
2023 MWJM Disaster Drill
In the 10/18/26 training/practice Drill, we’d like people in each MYN Block to “check on their loved ones” in their house, then gather in their Block to check on their neighbors, then use 2-way radios to coordinate response resources with other Blocks. We will plant “incident” cards around the neighborhood for search teams to find and discuss an appropriate response to.
After the Block activities conclude, we invite people to gather at Five Points to review lessons learned, have refreshments, and meet neighbors.
Watch for more information here and from your Block leaders!
This year we’re letting blocks decide how they want to practice what we’ve learned from Map Your Neighborhood and previous drills. If you haven’t already, you will likely receive instructions from your block leaders in the next week. The Drill activities within the Blocks can be decided by the individual blocks.
Nob Hill Stairs Drill 2023
Some possible activities:
–You may use the 10am start to practice “Drop, Cover, Hold On” and then proceed to your Neighborhood Gathering Site (Please bring your MYN booklet)
–You may follow the initial Drop Cover Hold On with practicing the 9 steps of Map Your Neighborhood (which includes going to your Neighborhood Gathering Site).
–use the time to get to know new neighbors and update your contact lists and skills & equipment inventories
–follow the MYN response plan and form teams and walk your block looking for incidents posted on telephone poles (alternately, have envelopes with situations for your team to decide how best to respond.
–delve into a specific predetermined topic as a team (communications, disaster kits, planning for sheltering in place or evacuation, focus on special needs, or whatever you come up with that will strengthen your block in a disaster.
Our exercise focused on the Nine Steps of the Map Your Neighborhood program. MYN is based on knowing your neighbors, knowing who needs extra help and what collective resources your block has available to help ourselves in the first hour following a disaster. Find out more about MYN.
It was a fun time with our neighbors!
THE DRILL: Began at home: At 10am DROP, COVER, HOLD ON! Practice what to do in the first hour of a Disaster:
–Grab your Walkie-Talkie Radio. Turn to Ch 5 – Listen to Network, call & give your status
Get your MYN booklet and follow the 9 Steps:
Check your Household – Make sure everyone is safe.
Dress for Safety – Put on sturdy shoes, a hardhat or helmet, and leather gloves
Locate your Gas Meter – Know where it is and know how to turn it off if necessary (but DON’T turn it off for the drill)
Locate your Water Shut-off Valve – Know where it is and know how to turn it off if necessary (but DON’T turn it off for the drill)
Check that you have your HELP/OK sign with 2 band aids stapled in your MYN booklet
Place your Fire Extinguisher on the Curb – Dial should be green, invert, and shake for 30 seconds before placing it in front of your house for neighbors to grab if needed for fire
Go to your Block Gathering Site – Where is it? Follow your neighbors.
Select a Block Drill Coordinator to organize teams based on the number of people and what each person prefers to do. Distribute vests, radios & tools. The Drill Coordinator may join one of the teams. Teams check the block for incidents.
After Teams complete work, Return to Gathering Site to share results
During the last hour all blocks convenedin the “5 Points” intersection for a debrief session for feedback on what worked and what didn’t. Ben reviewed all the incidents and all the correct responses. Pierre also demonstrated how to shut off gas. And we had pizza! An educational and tasty event!
This year we participated in the Great California Shakeout. In the era of Coronavirus, practicing at home is the most practical.
On October 15, 2020 at 10:15am we all Dropped Covered and Held on. After 60 seconds, we all practiced our Map Your Neighborhood 9 Steps (the first 6 steps that we do at home). In lieu of step 7 which would have us all go to our Neighborhood Gathering Sites, we instead got on our walkie -talkies and tuned in to channel 5 for a neighborhood roll call. We concluded with a discussion of the Shakeout Drill and what we learned.
Drop, Cover, and Hold On: Have your members Drop to the ground, take Cover under a table or desk, and Hold On to it as if a major earthquake were happening (stay down for at least 60 seconds). Practice now so you will immediately protect yourself during earthquakes! (See this page for what to do if in bed, outside, driving, in a tall building, or other situations.) For people with disabilities or access and functional needs, download our preparedness guide (661 KB) PDF.
While still under the table, or wherever you are, look around and imagine what would happen in a major earthquake. What would fall on you or others? What would be damaged? What would life be like after? What will you do before the actual earthquake happens to reduce losses and quickly recover?
Practice what you will do after the shaking stops.
After your drill is complete, have discussions about what was learned and incorporate these lessons into your disaster plan.
Remember: this is a good opportunity to think about securing items in your home that could fall and injure someone in an earthquake. Also a good time to check your disaster kits and restock as necessary.
