Thriving in Changing Times

Thriving in Changing Times: Community Resilience (Review), 2/8/25

By Kelley Morehouse

Sustainable Silverton’s Action Team on Community Resilience presented its second event on the topic on “Thriving in Changing Times.” This time, focusing on Emergency Neighborhood Support.

Thankfully, we had a very good turnout this year, even though our article for Our Town ended up as a one-inch calendar item. The word got around however, and 35 people showed up with their sleeves rolled up and ready to work.

We reviewed a collection of feedback from the community from our first, “Thriving in Changing Times" 2/8/24. We had asked participants what went well, and what hadn’t during the two ice storms and wildfires of 2020-2023. Last year’s feedback showed that neighbors were our best Resource!

Following the presentation on Communication Strategies for Hazardous Health Risks, from Marion County Health & Resiliency, we broke up into neighborhood groups and reviewed a model that the State of Washington uses, called Mapping Your Neighborhood (MYN). Fifteen to Twenty-five houses make up a neighborhood group and the idea is to map each household, and possible threats from an earthquake or another ice-storm.  From the designated meeting place in an emergency, teams of two or more could check on “Help” signs or OK signs, in the neighbor’s windows. A Safe-Center is also designated, like a hub, where recent news of the outside world, could be monitored on a transistor radio and others with minor medical needs may get help while waiting for professional help.

The feedback from this event clearly showed that next steps forward should be larger groups, to really inform more of our neighbors.

Sustainable Silverton will provide Small Packets to give to neighbors to inform of the process.

Look for announcements in late spring and as we continue on a quarterly basis to address this community effort.