City of Manhattan Beach
MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD- MYN
POLICY
Document Information
Program Name: Map Your Neighborhood (MYN)
Prepared by: Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Watch (MBNW), Manhattan Beach Community Emergency Response Team Association (MBCERTA), Manhattan Beach Fire Department (MBFD)
Executive Summary
The Map Your Neighborhood (MYN) program, launched in 2008, is a cooperative initiative between MBNW, MBCERTA, and MBFD. This is a disaster preparedness and response program for you and your immediate neighbors. It prepares residents to take immediate and effective action after a major disaster.
In a single neighborhood meeting, residents learn the nine essential steps for disaster response, including, but not limited to:
1) Safeguarding homes and neighbors
2) Preventing small issues from escalating
3) Reporting neighborhood status to MBCERTA collection points for coordinated emergency response, even when the 911 system is unavailable.
Program Objectives
1) Strengthen disaster readiness and resilience across neighborhoods 2) Train residents to share useful skills, tools, and equipment during emergencies 3) Develop neighborhood maps identifying utility shutoff points and households with special needs
4) Build community engagement and pride through collective preparedness Scope of Policy
1) Communication & Coordination
a) Establish a Steering Committee (4–10 members) with representation from MBNW, MBCERTA, MBFD, and community members
b) Hold monthly Steering Committee meetings
c) Conduct MYN outreach at community and citywide events d) Recruit trainers and hosts through MBNW, MBCERTA, and outreach efforts e) Track and report participation and training metrics
2) Training and Supporting Activity
a) Training the MYN trainers takes place in-home for the MYN block Captain. b) Recruit MYN trainers (usually from current Neighborhood Watch block captains/volunteers and CERT volunteers).
c) Outreach is conducted to Neighborhood Watch Block Captains to schedule and host in-home MYN trainings for their blocks.
d) All online inquiries for MYN come through the CERT website, and then CERT forwards these inquiries to the appropriate MYN committee member. e) Recruit and certify MYN trainers under the Master Trainer using the nine-step process
f) Provide trainers with standardized materials
g) Ensure all participants receive the official MYN booklet 3) Resources & Support
a) MBFD Liaison will:
i) Reserve facilities for meetings/trainings
ii) Prepare agendas and track action items
iii) Manage photocopying and booklet printing (budget Items) iv) Act as a communication bridge between Steering Committee and MBFD leadership
b) Chain of Command: The Liaison is a Disaster Service Worker (DSW) and reports to the MBFD Chief or designee
c) Inquiries: MBCERTA will manage inquiries via website/email and route them to the Steering Committee
d) Recordkeeping: Steering Committee maintains an up-to-date trainer and participant registry
Roles & Responsibilities
1) Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Watch (MBNW)
a) Assign one representative to the Steering Committee
b) Recruit trainers through volunteers
c) Encourage block captains to host MYN trainings
d) Promote MYN at outreach events
2) Manhattan Beach Community Emergency Response Team Association (MBCERTA) a) Manage incoming inquiries and forward them appropriately b) Assign one representative to the Steering Committee
c) Recruit trainers from MBCERTA volunteers
d) Promote MYN at outreach events
e) Provide situational awareness updates to the City’s Emergency Operations Center during disasters
3) Manhattan Beach Fire Department (MBFD)
a) Assign and support an MYN Liaison
b) Provide logistical support for facilities, agendas, and training materials c) Serve as the lead oversight agency
4) Community Leaders
a) Encourage participation and promote MYN at the neighborhood level Expected Outcomes
1) Increased neighborhood disaster resilience
2) Expanded resident engagement and preparedness
3) Standardized and consistent MYN training across neighborhoods 4) Improved situational awareness during disasters
5) Performance:
a) In July 2025, approximately 30 community members were trained on MYN at in- home presentations
b) Updating the MYN trainer and participant registry annually Conclusion
This policy establishes a structured framework for the Map Your Neighborhood program, ensuring collaboration between MBNW, MBCERTA, and MBFD. It strengthens community preparedness and enhances local disaster response capacity.
The policy may be revised as needed to reflect changes in resources, technology, or community priorities. Active participation and support from all stakeholders are critical for sustaining MYN’s success.
How to Join MYN Flow Chart
MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD - MYN
REMEMBER...
Immediately following disasters, follow the 9 steps described in this booklet.
BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING DISASTER READINESS
AMONG NEIGHBORS
www.mbcerta.org
Drop Box #1
400 15th Street
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
[email protected]
www.manhattanbeach.gov
Fire Station 1
400 15th Street
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Fire Station 2
1400 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
WITH THANKS TO WASHINGTON STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC EDUCATION Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 1Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 1 4/4/2023 5:09:59 PM4/4/2023 5:09:59 PM 2 MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
INTRODUCTION TO MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD (MYN)
In a disaster, our most immediate source of help are the neighbors living around us.
In this handout you will:
1. Learn the first 9 steps to take immediately following a disaster to secure your home and to protect your neighborhood.
It is hard to think clearly following a disaster. These steps will help you quickly and safely do things that really help.
2. Identify three skills and equipment each neighbor has that are useful in an effective disaster response.
Knowing which neighbors have supplies and skills helps your disaster response be timely, and allows everyone to contribute to the response in a meaningful way.
3. Create a Neighborhood Map showing the locations of:
• Each natural gas meter and propane tank,
About 67% of house fires following disasters are caused by leaking gas.
Knowing where these meters are and shutting them off helps eliminate this threat.
• Each neighbor who is elderly, who has a disability, and where children are who may be home alone at certain hours of the day.
Checking on neighbors vulnerable to injury and trauma helps protect them from going into shock, and helps ensure that everyone is okay.
Knowing what to do in the first hours
after a disaster may help you save
a life, reduce injury, and decrease
neighborhood damage.
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9 STEPS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING DISASTER
AT HOME...
Step 1: Take care of your loved ones.
Step 2: Protect your head, feet and hands. A bicycle helmet or hard ha
t protects from falling debris. Sturdy shoes protect from br
oken glass. Leather gloves protect from sharp objects.
Step 3: Check the natural gas or propane at your home. Shut off if nece
ssary. This is one of the best ways to prevent fire.
Step 4: Shut off water at the house main valve to trap water in your ho
me and to keep pollutants out of possible drinking water, lik
e that in your water heater.
Step 5: Place the Help or OK sign (see back page) on your front doo
r or window. Posting the sign helps your neighbors
loc
ate those who need help first.
Step 6: Put your fire extinguisher on the sidewalk or where your ne
ighbors can see it. This way, if a neighbor has a small fire afte
r a disaster, extinguishers are immediately available.
Step 2: Keep these under your
bed.
Turn the valve ¼ turn to shut
off the gas. NEVER turn it back
once it has been turned off.
Step 3
Step 6
WITH NEIGHBORS...
Step 7: After Steps 1-6 are completed, go to the
N
eighborhood Gathering Site. (The following page
w
ill help you choose this location.)
Write your Neighborhood Gathering Site location here:
Step 8: Form Teams at the Neighborhood Gathering Site:
• T
EAM 1 will listen to the Emergency Alert System (AM/FM
radio), or to a NOAA Weather Radio and keep neighbors
informed of what they learn.
•
T
EAM 2 will check on neighbors who are elderly, those
with disability, or children who may be home alone.
• T
EAM 3 will check all natural gas meters and propane tanks, and shut off the gas as necessary.
• T
EAM 4 will check on all homes with the “Help” card displayed on the front door or window, or with no card showing. Be prepared to give first aid. Trust your instincts; something feels unsafe, stay out.
Step 9: After your Team has completed its work, go back to the Neighborhood Gathering Site.
S
hare what you have done with the rest of your neighbors.
Contact Information:
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NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING SITE AND CARE CENTER
NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING SITE:
Come to the Neighborhood Gathering Site after you
have completed Steps 1-6 of “9 Steps Immediately
Following Disaster.” Coming here will help you
organize an effective neighborhood response, and
reduce confusion.
The Neighborhood Gathering Site is at someone’s
home, though not inside because it is important
that it is easily seen. The visibility will help remind everyone that they should come here. A large front
porch, a covered carport, or an open garage will
protect you from rain or snow.
Write your Neighborhood Gathering Site here
(also write this location on the previous page):
NEIGHBORHOOD CARE CENTER:
A Neighborhood Care Center is inside
someone’s home. It is a place where
children, those who are elderly, and those
with a disability can be brought so they are
not alone and can be given care.
Write your Neighborhood Care Center
location here:
Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 4Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 4 4/4/2023 5:10:07 PM4/4/2023 5:10:07 PM MANHATTAN BEACH CERT ASSOCIATION 5
NEIGHBORHOOD SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT INVENTORY
Who knows what? Who has what? Who can do what?
Write the names of neighbors with these skills/knowledge and equipment/supplies:
SKILLS / KNOWLEDGE
FIRST AID SKILLS
CHILD CARE SKILLS
ELDER CARE SKILLS
SEARCH AND RESCUE SKILLS
CRISIS COUNSELING SKILLS
PLUMBER SKILLS
CARPENTER SKILLS
ELECTRICIAN SKILLS
FIREFIGHTING SKILLS
MILITARY/SERVICE SKILLS
HAM OPERATOR
LANGUAGE SKILLS
COORDINATING AND
ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
FIRST AID SUPPLIES
TENTS/SPARE BEDDING
CHAIN SAW
GENERATOR
FIRE EXTINGUISHER
CAMP STOVE
NOAA WEATHER RADIO
WALKIE-TALKIE
LADDER
CROWBAR
STRONG ROPE
LIGHTING
EQUIPMENT / SUPPLIES
Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 5Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 5 4/4/2023 5:10:07 PM4/4/2023 5:10:07 PM House numbers
Building lot
numbers
Propane indicator
Gas indicator
6 MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
GUIDELINES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD MAPPING
These guidelines will help you sketch a neighborhood map (create the sketch on the following page).
FIRST:
Sketch the basic layout of your
neighborhood.
•
I
nclude streets, building lots,
and houses.
• I
nclude house numbers.
SECOND:
• N umber the building lots in order.
This will allow you to easily match
each house to the information on
the Contact List (see FOURTH step).
THIRD:
Mark the exact location of each natural
gas meter or propane tank on your
map.
•
E
xplain the location of your gas
meter to your neighbors. For
example, “behind the lilac bush on
the front corner of the house.”
•
S
uggestion: At the end of the
meeting, walk your neighborhood
and find each meter. It will help to
see where each meter is located.
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NEIGHBORHOOD SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT INVENTORY
FOURTH:
• In the tinted box on the Contact List, write names of those who may need extra help during disasters (neighbors who are elderly, neighbors with disabilities, and children who may be home alone at certain hours of the day).
• Match 1 on contact list with the lot that you numbered “1,” match 2 with the lot that you numbered “2,” match 3 with “3,” match 4 with “4,” etc.
IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS,
COMPLETE THE CONTACT LIST AS SHOWN ABOVE.
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YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MAP
Draw the layout of streets, building lots and houses (see previous “Guidelines for Neighborhood Mapping”). Number building lots in order: Mark exact locations of gas meters and propane tanks.
Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 8Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 8 4/4/2023 5:10:08 PM4/4/2023 5:10:08 PM HOUSE 1
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 2
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 3
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 4
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 5
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 6
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 7
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 8
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 9
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 10
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 11
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 12
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 13
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 14
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 15
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
MANHATTAN BEACH CERT ASSOCIATION 9
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT LIST
Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 9Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 9 4/4/2023 5:10:08 PM4/4/2023 5:10:08 PM HOUSE 16
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 17
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 18
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 19
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 20
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 21
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 22
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 23
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 24
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 25
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 26
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 27
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 28
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 29
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
HOUSE 30
Adult Name(s)
Children Name(s)
Best Phone
Email
Pet(s) and kind(s)
Any persons with specific needs
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CONTACT LIST (CONTINUED)
10 MAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
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BEFORE THE DISASTER
Put two band aids in this booklet and put the booklet under your bed, along with your sturdy shoes, hard hats, and leather gloves.
AFTER THE DISASTER
Use the band aids to hang this card on the front door or a window so it is visible from the street.
WASHINGTON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 11Map Your Neighborhood Book COLOR 8_5x11.indd 11 4/4/2023 5:10:09 PM4/4/2023 5:10:09 PM Check these
houses first:
“No Card”
and “Help”
Check
these
houses
later to
make
sure they
are fine.
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