Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing-L Digest, Vol 259, Issue 15

[Marilyn Seiler (marilynseiler72]

We at Oakcreek community cohousing in Oklahoma have multiple levels of
notification and protocols. We are eight houses in three pods. We have
located  a fire extinguisher on the one porch of each pod along with an
airhorn. We have a fire drill with definite protocol at least once a year.
We have a tornado drill once a year in March just before tornado season
begins and again the airhorn is used for notification of members and we
make sure that all members are aware. We have a card system that residents
place in their door window. Purple card means I’m away. A light blue card
says shelter in place. These cards are placed in the door window as
appropriate so that when an emergency occurs, we know who to continue to
look for if someone doesn’t show up where they’re supposed to. We also have
a WhatsApp Emergency chat group. People can opt in or out of that group.
That notification is used only in extreme emergencies. there is a separate
line for weather emergencies only. I’m probably forgetting some, but those
are the main emergency protocols that we have in place along with a well
stocked Tornado shelter that will seat 32 people and two underground storm
shelters that will each seat eight with pets.

Marilyn Seiler


> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2025 15:02:17 -0400
> From: Jim Mendell <jim.mendell [at] gmail.com>
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: [C-L]_ Emergency Procedures
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CAEt8ZqW_-Af0ykMVO4SoNBJHQ6R6yEdTfrmqLfF6bV3hZMoLjw [at] mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Our Resilience circle at Bristol Cohousing is developing a plan for how the
> community can best communicate with each other in the event of an extreme
> threat.
>
> Wondering whether other communities have ideas about how to get the word
> out in the most effective way.
>
> Jim
> --
> Jim Mendell
> Bristol Village Cohousing
> www.bristolcohousing.com
> 802-734-0798
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:16:03 -0700
> From: Margo Solod <margosolod [at] gmail.com>
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Emergency Procedures
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CACmaipGr-0M5FzGvHPhO-ABsQqjJkS2ApH3kR4bnOPq4Cdwzgg [at] mail.gmail.com>
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>
> very interested in other community plans as well.   a couple of us have
> tried to drum up some interest but we are in the infant stage
>
> On Tue, Aug 19, 2025 at 12:02?PM Jim Mendell <jim.mendell [at] gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Our Resilience circle at Bristol Cohousing is developing a plan for how
> the
> > community can best communicate with each other in the event of an extreme
> > threat.
> >
> > Wondering whether other communities have ideas about how to get the word
> > out in the most effective way.
> >
> > Jim
> > --
> > Jim Mendell
> > Bristol Village Cohousing
> > www.bristolcohousing.com
> > 802-734-0798
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> > http://L.cohousing.org/info
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Margo Solod
> Author of *Cuttyhunk: Life on the Rock, Coyote Summer and Washed Up in the
> Waves*
> www.summerhoodisland.blogspot.com
> www.margosolod.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2025 16:40:02 -0700
> From: Stuart Pettygrove <gspettygrove [at] ucdavis.edu>
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Emergency Procedures
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CAMrjHFBAqggfqndf9POnDDXuDvm61mxJpYJ-wc0DozWx8+G+kg [at] mail.gmail.com>
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>
> Jim,
> We (Washington Commons in West Sacramento CA) have an emergency protocols
> sheet, but it doesn't address a communication system for extreme threats.
> We live in one big building, 4 stories with elevator, so we've thought some
> about "big" emergencies, especially flooding from the Sacramento River or
> an earthquake that requires evacuation. I'd assumed we'd all grab our
> phones before leaving the building and use phone/email/text to communicate.
> Those who are disabled or otherwise unable to use the stairs are to call
> 911 to get the fire department to help them evacuate.
> Our emergency sheet does advise members to sign up for the county emergency
> alert system for severe weather, medical, and other emergency alerts.
> But now that you've brought this up, I can see it deserves more thought,
> e.g. how would we update members who are away traveling and -- hearing the
> latest news of flood, fire, or earthquake would want to know our situation.
> Stu Pettygrove
>
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 19, 2025 at 12:02?PM Jim Mendell <jim.mendell [at] gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Our Resilience circle at Bristol Cohousing is developing a plan for how
> the
> > community can best communicate with each other in the event of an extreme
> > threat.
> >
> > Wondering whether other communities have ideas about how to get the word
> > out in the most effective way.
> >
> > Jim
> > --
> > Jim Mendell
> > Bristol Village Cohousing
> > www.bristolcohousing.com
> > 802-734-0798
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:
> > http://L.cohousing.org/info
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 19 Aug 2025 19:09:56 -0500
> From: Courtney Overby <courtneyanna.db [at] gmail.com>
> To: cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org
> Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Emergency Procedures
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CANLA2dhSUfGLHUFhCvMtF99mgQy8ExWwZxAYrseauEmR6rm1bQ [at] mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Yes
>
> I?m by no means any expert. Only chiming in to make a case for multipoint
> approaches,
>
> Things like floor or building leader, radio comms, satellite options, back
> up power, cell towers /services may be out and phones may lose power
> quickly or be lost in the shuffle. Asp medical equipment can lose power so
> if people are diabetic that might need extra care and backups ideas
> considered ahead of time.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
>
> Courtney A. Overby, MPP
>
> "If your only tool is a hammer, you're apt to go around treating everything
> as if it were a nail" -Abraham Maslow
>
> Master of Public Policy, 2020
> Minneapolis Global Shapers Alumni | Initiative of World Economic Forum
> (e) Courtneyanna.db [at] gmail.com
> (p) (612)750-0808
>
> https://www.linkedin.com/in/caoverby
>
>
>
>