A plan for your neighbourhood, association or club

Build a network 

• Create a network. You are not alone. Ask for help from: 
  • Your neighbours: if something happens at your home, good neighbours are essential.  
  • Your acquaintances, family and friends: they can help you prepare.  
• Draw on an existing network. Are you part of a local association, sports club or other group? These networks can play an important role in an emergency. Think together about how to support and prepare yourself.  

Make arrangements  

In an emergency, you need to be able to rely on each other quickly. It is therefore important to make the necessary arrangements in advance. A well-prepared network:  

• Knows the potential risks in the area and the preparations to be made.  
• Keeps updated with news and alerts via BE-Alert, the media and specific apps (e.g. RMI).  
• Actively considers how to help each other and other networks in an emergency.  

Make arrangements for:  

• How to alert each other.  
  • Via social networks (WhatsApp, Facebook, Hoplr, etc.): share important alerts and exchange information. 
  • By telephone: decide who to call, especially in an emergency situation at night.  
  • If there is no internet or phone: find out how to contact each other without phone or internet. 
• Which risks to watch out for 
  • Risks near you: nuclear emergency planning zones, flood zones, Seveso companies or other risks near you.  
  • High-impact risks: discuss risks that could have a major impact on the country as a whole, e.g. several hours without electricity, heating or Internet. How can you prepare together? 
• Who can provide what help?  
  • Skills or knowledge. Each member of your network has different skills or knowledge, for example in first aid or DIY. Discuss what each person can do. That way, you will know who to contact in the event of a problem.  
  • Equipment or space. Some of the people in your network have equipment (e.g. specific tools) or space (e.g. a large garage) that others don't have. See what you can lend or exchange.  
• Who needs extra help? 
  • Are there people in your region or association who need extra help before, during or after an emergency? For example, disabled people, single people with young children, the elderly, etc. Talk to them about what they need (or might need) and how you can help.  

Other initiatives to help each other:  

• Take a first aid course together 
• Donate blood or plasma 
• Share the right information 
• Provide shelter or a place to sleep for someone who can't return home  
• Lend or exchange goods 
• Go grocery shopping for someone 
• Lend your mobile phone or share a hotspot 
• Cook for someone 

On site  

• Does your network have a fixed physical location? For example, your own premises, a clubhouse, etc.  
  • There are legal obligations regarding fire safety and evacuation. Make sure your building complies with these obligations.  
  • Make arrangements 
    • Who has the keys?  
    • Who has access to the water supply, gas taps and electricity meters? 
  • Make sure this area has an emergency kit.  
• Do you live in a block of flats, a student room or some other form of co-habitation?  
  • There are legal obligations regarding fire safety and evacuation.  
    • Are you a homeowner? Make sure your building complies with these obligations.  
    • Are you not a homeowner? It is important to know where the emergency exits are. 
  • Discuss together: 
    • Who has the keys?  Who has access to the water supply, gas taps and electricity meters?  
    • Is there a common ventilation system? Who can activate or deactivate it? 
    • Are there people in the building who need extra help? If so, who can help these people?  
    • It may be a good idea to put together a shared emergency kit, rather than one for each student room/apartment. For example, you could set aside a space in a cellar or other shared room.  
• Do you organise an outdoor activity with your club or association, possibly with an overnight stay?  
  • Make sure the coordinator always has a list of the people present. In an emergency, you will have a quick overview of everyone present. 
  • Is it an activity with children? Think about how you can notify parents in the event of an emergency.