Grassroots Disaster Preparedness Listening Tour, Shelby NC - Stop 2

Shelby community conversation: hear from those who weathered Helene and helped their neighbors, and help shape a grassroots disaster network
About this Event

Hosted by Nearby Nearby Network and Senator Ted Alexander

Monday, July 20, 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Cleveland County Chamber of Commerce, 200 S Lafayette Street, Shelby, NC 28150

Cleveland County felt Helene too. But what stood out about this community among so many others was how it turned around and showed up for its neighbors, carrying help to the towns around it when they needed it most. That is exactly the spirit we want to hear from.

Come tell us what worked, what didn't, and what is still hard, whether you lived through it here or drove out to support a neighboring community. You know things no outside expert ever will.

We also want to show you what we are building, and hear straight from you whether it would actually help. Nearby Nearby Network is a first-of-its-kind, neighbor-helping-neighbor grassroots disaster network, set up before a disaster, not scrambled together after one. People always talk about the first 72 hours, and we will too, but this goes further. It is about keeping good information flowing inside the community when cell service fails, and helping neighbors not just get through the emergency but recover as life comes back.

To be clear about what this is and what it is not. We are not emergency management, and we are not here to replace first responders. We are building the support and the infrastructure at the neighbor and grassroots level, before a disaster, so that information and communication open up sooner. That means responders can move faster with real information from the ground, and the organizations and volunteers who come to help are better organized and understand what the community actually needs.

If you have ideas, suggestions, or something you wish had existed during Helene, bring them. This is as much your blueprint as ours.

Seating is limited to about 20 to keep the conversation meaningful, so please register through Eventbrite to hold your spot. Light snacks on hand.
Nearby Nearby Network - nearbynearbynetwork.org
This is the second stop along a 8 stop tour - find out more here - https://nearbynearbynetwork.org/events/

Nearby Nearby Network is an NC registered 501(c)(3), FEIN 41-3087248, DLN 26053448010506.