Helping Neighbors Prepare for Disaster

Disaster preparedness is necessary, of course. But who has time for it? In one Eichler neighborhood the answer is – quite a few people, thanks in part to one enthusiastic dog walker.

She’s gotten a lot out of it, too.

“I did this to help disaster planning,” says DJ DeProspero, a 24-year resident of Sunnyvale’s Fairbrae tract, which was built from 1958 to 1960 and has more than 350 homes. “But it has benefited me in getting to know people.”

Since DJ, as folks call her, started spreading the word about CERT training to neighbors, seven people in her 30-home area signed up for the training, and many more have been exposed to it through demonstrations she and her husband, Gerry Glaser, helped out on.

Every one of her neighbors in the group agreed to become part of a phone and email notification list to be used in case of emergency.

CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) is a nationwide program that encourages people to learn what to do in case of fire, storm, earthquake, or other disaster. Adding to the swarm of acronyms, the program in Sunnyvale has been dubbed SNAP, for Sunnyvale Neighbors Actively Prepare.

The goal of SNAP, the city says, is “to provide Sunnyvale residents with tools to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours following a disaster and to be able to become an asset to their neighborhoods as well as the city.”

The training teaches participants to “take care of yourself, your family, your home, then your neighbors,” DeProspero says. “You start partnering up, knocking on doors, checking on the neighbors. At one block party we talked about when and how to turn off water and gas, used our home as example.”

She recommends that all neighbors keep stores of food and water. DJ has her own pack,  complete with hard hat, neighborhood list, flashlight, flare, tape, safety goggles and more.

DeProspero began by identifying the group of neighbors who would take part. The city suggests limiting the group to 30 homes. She chose her own cul-de-sac, a nearby cul-de-sac, the stretch of street between them, and homes that backed up to hers and her neighbors.

“I began walking from house to house and introducing myself. I knew a lot of people but some I had never seen before. I got 100 percent positive response. People were very appreciative.”

She put together a contact sheet with all neighbors’ names and contact information. Everyone has a copy, and she updates it as needed. It is to be used only for emergencies, not for announcing garage sales or seeking babysitters. For those tasks the neighborhood has its own Next Door page, which was set up by another active neighbor.

It helped that DJ is already well known in the neighborhood.

“She walks her dog once or more per day and is very friendly to everyone — always has a happy greeting, and supports everyone's efforts to keep our homes and yards safe and appealing,” says neighbor Peter Anning, who has also taken part in SNAP and has helped teach emergency techniques to neighbors.

DJ says her new dog had a lot to do with her becoming more active in the neighborhood.

“We got a dog that needed to be walked,” she says. “So I went out walking twice a day. I started meeting people I’d never seen before. If you want to meet people in an Eichler neighborhood you have to be outside. Eichler houses are more faced inward, and when you go inside you don’t see what’s happening outside.”

“I started meeting people and seeing what was going on in the neighborhood. Back when I was working I would be in and out of the house, and home at night. I know the people now. I was really happy to met people face to face, and know their names.”

“Also,” she says, “I had just retired.” For years, she says, she had thought about learning CERT. Now she had the time. DeProspero formerly worked in information technology in the tech field.

Her SNAP outreach also led to social activities. “Two people I spoke to said we should start having block parties,” she says. “I said, I’m not a party organizer but if you want to do it I’d work with you.”

So they put on a couple of block parties, each with short disaster preparedness demonstrations. Unfortunately, she says, this past summer went by without such a party – due to time constraints that face busy young families.

DJ doesn’t brag about herself. It was Anning who told Eichler Network about her efforts.

“Some neighborhoods in Sunnyvale have super organizers,” she says. “That just takes someone who wants to do that. I’m not that person.”

“I haven’t done a lot. I’ve done a little bit. If we do have a disaster, I think we’ll be a little better off and know how to help each other.”

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