CREW / NEIGHBOR SQUADS
Start a neighbor squad
A neighbor squad is three to eight households that check on each other. It takes ten minutes a month. When the lights go out, you already know who is next door.
01 / SIX STEPS
How to start
- Pick your householdsThree to eight homes near you. The same street, the same floor, the same block.
- Share the cardEach household writes only what it chooses to share: a name, a door, the best phone number and the best way to reach them.
- Set a check-inA ten-minute call or text on Base Check Saturday and on the first Monday of each month.
- Agree the rulesShare only what people choose. Never enter a home unless invited. Call 911 for any emergency. Text first.
- Use the textWhen a storm watch is issued, text the squad: "Base check." Everyone answers: "Squared away," or what they need.
- Tell the crewReply to any crew email and tell us how it is going. With your permission, the best notes go in Crew notes.
What a squad is
- Neighbors who know each other's names and doors.
- A short list of who can help, and who may need help.
- A habit of checking in before and after a storm.
What a squad is not
- An emergency service. Call 911 for emergencies.
- A place to collect medical records or private details.
- A group that enters homes uninvited.
Check on neighbors who may need help
Older adults, people living alone and people who rely on powered medical equipment may need a check-in first. Ready.gov and CDC both advise checking on neighbors during and after an outage. Ask what help they want, and respect the answer.
Sources: Ready.gov, Power Outages. CDC, Power outage safety.
BRING TWO
Bring two neighbors
A crew grows one door at a time. Send this to two neighbors. Three homes is a squad.