Neighbours can help with everyday tasks during an outage. A Porch Card makes the first knock easy. Share only details you are comfortable giving to a trusted neighbour; medical and urgent needs still require qualified help.
Hello from next door
Name(s)
House / flat
Phone
Best way to reach us if phones are down
We can help with
Spare safe water or jugs
Tools
First-aid training
Food for a few extra
Watching kids by arrangement
Charging (with a safe backup plan)
A lift
A radio and local updates
We might need
A daily knock
Help carrying water
Keeping a medicine cool
Power for a medical device
A lift somewhere
Someone to check on a pet
Share privately with a trusted neighbour. Nothing on this card is an obligation. For an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number; this card is not an alert service. Medical-device power and medicine storage need a plan with your clinician and supplier.
All well
We checked in today. Thanks for looking out for us.
Please knock
We could use a hand today.
For an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number. Do not wait for someone to see this sign.
How the signs work
Agree a check-in time with your neighbours. Green reports a recent check-in; it does not guarantee everyone is safe now. Amber asks for a knock. Check directly if you are concerned, even when a green sign is up.
For everyday help
Amber is a request between neighbours, not an emergency signal. Call 911 or your local emergency number for urgent help. If communications fail, use your local emergency plan to reach responders; do not wait for a sign to be noticed.
The first afternoon
Hand out the cards on the first day, when everyone is still curious and nobody is tired. It is far easier than knocking for the first time on day six.