When power goes out, neighbors step in

Upper McKenzie residents are invited to a community potluck Sept. 24 to discuss how neighbors can stay connected and help one another when power, cell phones and internet service are unavailable.

The Upper McKenzie Community Center and McKenzie Valley Neighbors Radio Group will co-host the gathering at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, at the Upper McKenzie Community Center. Residents are encouraged to attend even if they don’t bring a potluck dish.

The discussion will focus on building “Neighborhood Networks” that can help residents communicate and check on one another during extended power outages, ice and snow storms, floods, wildfires and other emergencies.

Organizers say an emergency doesn’t have to be catastrophic before neighbors may need assistance. Past storms and power outages have demonstrated how quickly normal methods of communication can disappear, particularly in rural areas of the McKenzie Valley.

Participants will be encouraged to share their own experiences – both successes and challenges – in getting or providing help during previous emergencies.

Organizers said the definition of a “neighborhood” may vary throughout the valley and is often best determined by the people who live there. The meeting will explore which areas naturally lend themselves to neighborhood networks and identify nearby GMRS and amateur, or HAM, radio operators who may be able to provide communication when conventional systems fail.

The evening will also include a review of Lane County’s evacuation zones and an opportunity for residents to “Know Your Zone.”

Lane County Emergency Manager Monica Larcom is scheduled to attend and answer questions about how the evacuation zones were established, how they will be used during an emergency and other aspects of county emergency preparedness.

Members of the McKenzie Valley Neighbors Radio Group will also explain different communication options, along with their advantages and limitations. The group has developed a network of GMRS and HAM radio operators throughout the Upper McKenzie Valley who can help relay information when cell phone and internet services aren’t working.

Organizers stress that neighborhood networks and volunteer radio operators are intended to supplement – not replace – professional emergency services.

Residents should always call 911 for fire, medical emergencies or other immediate emergency assistance.

The goal of the Sept. 24 gathering is to strengthen connections before the next emergency occurs, giving neighbors a better idea of who may need help, who can provide it and how people can communicate when the usual systems aren’t available.