Our neighbourhood BlockWatch group received a Neighbourhood Small Grant (NSG) in 2024 to hold out an annual get-together focused on an Emergency Preparedness (EP) theme. We held a highly successful event with 45 participants. Our grant purchased both an EP tent and the burgers/hotdogs/condiments/beverages/plates/cups and utensils for a BBQ. Participants brought a potluck dish to share.
Our new tent was used at the BBQ for much-needed shade in 30-degree heat. In the event of an emergency, the tent will be used as the central meeting and check-in point in front of the BlockWatch Captain’s house where it will be stored. It will also be used for future community-building BlockWatch events.
At the BBQ, we loaded a table with EP brochures, including Firesmart, and our EP lead spoke to the importance of “Neighbourhood” Emergency Preparedness and looking after each other. We introduced the concept of a confidential Household Registration, which will help identify what actions need to be taken should an emergency arise. Specifically, it will identify how many individuals there are in each house, how many pets and what kind, what vulnerabilities there may be (elderly, small children, special needs) and what special skills and resources we can call on if needed (skills such as doctors, nurses, first aid, rescue skills, trade knowledge, etc., special tools that may be needed such as ladders, chain saws, communication devices, large cooking pots, etc., as well as access to emergency water such as pools, hot tubs, ponds, etc. We followed up with emails, website postings, and handouts for those unable to attend.
We had a planning committee of 5, including the Blockwatch Captain, 2 Co-Captains, and two BBQ committee assistants. On the day, we had 5 extra helpers including 2 BBQ chefs, 1 photographer, and 2 extra men to help deliver large items (tent, table), assemble the tent, put up two tables, and arrange chairs. The planning committee used an email distribution list to invite participants, determined the required food budget, adjusted purchases accordingly, followed up RSVPs with specific details about the BBQ (location, time, what to bring), prepared a shopping list and final budget, did the shopping and set up the food on the day. Planning members also set up the EP brochure table and spoke to the group about the actions underway and how the group could participate.
Our biggest challenge was figuring out how to stay within the available food budget and determining what we could cut, or what we could ask participants to bring that would make up the shortfall. In the end, we were able to cover most expenses, with the BlockWatch leaders covering a little extra to enable us to buy a higher quality tent than initially purchased.
Thank you to the Nanaimo Foundation and Neighbourhood Small Grants! We are very grateful.
