This is a great organization that teaches you how to prepare for disasters. Their focus is on mentoring neighborhoods to get organized, so that neighbors can help each other immediately after a big disaster, such as the next major earthquake on the Hayward fault that is expected at any time. Regular City emergency responders won't be available in the first few days because they will be overwhelmed fighting major events, such as fires and evacuations. The BDPNN has quarterly meetings with guest speakers on a variety of disaster topics, plus they offer training to neighborhoods. They helped my neighborhood to get organized, and now we have emergency supplies and training for search and rescue and first aid. We will be able to take care of ourselves until help can arrive.
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- EIN 46-2664414
- info@bdpnnetwork.org
- 1791 Solano Ave, Box D-03 Berkeley CA 94707 USA
- http://www.bdpnnetwork.org/
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Disaster Aid, Disaster Preparedness & Relief Services, Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief, Safety Education
Mission: The Berkeley Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Network (BDPNN) is a non-profit organization that assists neighborhoods in preparing for many kinds of disasters, including earthquakes. We work closely with the City of Berkeley and other local agencies to ensure our residents are as prepared as possible. We offer mentoring, information sharing, lessons learned, and tons of experience from groups who have been around since the 1989 Oakland earthquake. Members also receive discounts on disaster preparedness supplies through local vendors. We hold specialized training sessions for our members several times per year, including: • how to start and organize your neighborhood, or how to restart a "fizzled" group • caring for the elderly and special needs individuals during a disaster • radio training on the use of walkie talkies to manage your group's activities during a disaster response • performing neighborhood drills to practice life-saving skills
Results: Our membership includes over 120 city-wide neighborhoods in various stages of development. Our quarterly meetings cover a variety of preparedness topics. We published a Disaster Field Manual that anyone can use as the first draft of a neighborhood response plan.
Target demographics: residents prepare for disasters, particularly a major earthquake on the Hayward fault
Direct beneficiaries per year: 15 new neighborhood groups and 150 new individuals
Geographic areas served: the city of Berkeley
Programs: assisting neighborhood groups to organize so that neighbors can help neighbors in the first critical days after a disaster when regular 911 services are overwhelmed.