I have started making a checklist of my neighbors.....not in a turn them into the government way.

More like, where the doctors live, nurses, attorneys, military, ex military....etc.
If needed you can begin to organize.

Also the perimeters of your neighborhood. I prepare to survive where we are and prepare in case we need to move.

Just another thought.....we have a large neighborhood and could probably combine our efforts to protect it.

it's funny, i live in Sacramento...the city covers most of the area around me, but even then there are a lot of wild areas still...especially along the rivers and farm irrigation areas....i could see a major natural disaster hitting Sacramento, that knocks out all government support and infrastructure, and being very capable at surviving long term around here....savaging supplies from areas, etc...but with the wild lands intact i don't see a problem. if anything, i'd say looting/roaming gangs would be the biggest concern.

my neighborhood is mostly elderly people, so any kind of organization that happens here is for quilt sewing and such, then immediately outside of my street is mostly (no offense) anti-social minority communities, and gang infested areas...so my organizational list includes

1) GTFO
2) live

lol

Excellent idea Henny. You need to look at what (as a neighborhood)
you would do if some of the following were to occur-

- Water is shut off. where could you get water? Are there any
streams, lakes nearby? What might be the best place to dig a
well. How could you filter large quantities of water? You would
have to ration water in all probability - what water uses would
you restrict? Water priorities might be in this order: Drinking
, personal washing, sanitation/cooking/dish&clothes washing.

-Power is cut off. How many people have generators? freezers?
Perhaps stock up on fuel for generators. Share freezer space.

- TEOTWAWKI is happening. Crime is rampant. Who has firearms?
Organize watch groups and shifts. Establish rules for visitors.

- See what tools are available. Chainsaws, bowsaws, axes, splitting
mauls, hand powered drills, planers, etc.

- plan space for community garden. Prep soil this fall for next year.
Decide on crops and how to organize labor.

- identify special needs persons - elderly /disabled. establish
alternate care routines and supplies.

- organize a neighborhood daycare.

- Find ways to share housing for extreme heat and cold. Who has
woodstoves / fireplaces. How many can comfortably use each site.
Very hot weather can be deadly for some - wellshaded houses with
ac and generators to care for those.

- start a buying co-op for bulk items and store for future use.

- think about entertainment for the community, activities, games,
dances. Survival situations need not be trying or boring. happy
people survive better!

Establish rules and chains of command to avert dissention and
confusion.

- as you said list the skill assets in your community like doctors,
carpenters, plumbers, gardeners, ex-military/police etc.

In bad times sharing increases your sense of community and
connectedness to others. All these activities will create trust
between the individuals and families in your neighborhood.

Why heat every house when every other house might be better?
If you have power to run a tv why watch alone when you can
have 10 friends to share with? Disasters can be opportunities
for personal and social growth.

great thread! I'll be back to see what else folks might suggest!

luckily i live in mountain country and people out here know how to fend for themselves and not rely on modern technologies and electronics for their survival.

theres organic local markets everywhere... a lot of people who use solar panels for their power... i am pretty sure if a crisis were to ever happen, we would be pretty okay out here.

With any sort of 'community survival', particularly with the elderly, when power is out, but generator-powered refrigeration is available, it is critical to determine who has medication that must be kept cool, such as insulin, and these meds placed in proper storage ASAP. Depending upon how bad things are, what you have may be it for a while, so none can be wasted.