Maryland Emergency Management Agency Partners with Nextdoor to Provide Emergency Preparedness Information and Notifications to Maryland Residents

Maryland Emergency Management Agency Partners with Nextdoor to Provide Emergency Preparedness Information and Notifications to Maryland Residents

MEMA Becomes First State Emergency Management Agency to Join Nextdoor, the Private Social Network for Neighborhoods

Listen to audio of release here.

Pictured from left to right: MEMA Executive Director Russ Strickland, Nextdoor Senior City Strategist and Professional Neighbor Joseph Porcelli, MEMA Digital Engagement Coordinator Emily Allen, and Nextdoor Member Claire Corcoran.

REISTERSTOWN, Md. (April 20, 2017) — Earlier today, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) announced a partnership with Nextdoor (nextdoor.com), the private social network for neighborhoods, to improve statewide and neighbor-to-neighbor communications before, during, and after emergencies.

MEMA will use Nextdoor to connect with neighbors by sharing news and updates and providing preparedness and alert information directly to communities. MEMA and Nextdoor neighborhoods will be able to work together to increase resiliency across Maryland.

“MEMA is the first State emergency management agency to join Nextdoor, and we are thrilled to have this additional tool to help us connect with Marylanders,” said MEMA Executive Director Russell Strickland. “Emergency situations require quick action. Nextdoor gives us the ability to target communications by geography, such as regions or flood zones, which will help us share timely information with those who need it.”

To date, Nextdoor has proven to be an essential and well-adopted tool for Maryland residents. More than 2,700 neighborhoods across Maryland are using Nextdoor to stay connected.
Maryland residents can create private neighborhood websites to share information, including neighborhood public safety issues, community events and activities, local services, and even lost pets with Nextdoor. MEMA will be able to post information, such as important news, preparedness information, and emergency notifications to communities across Maryland.

“We have always invested in innovative ways to increase safety for our residents,” Executive Director Strickland continued. “With Nextdoor, we can help empower neighbors to build community, which ultimately creates stronger, safer more resilient places to call home.”

Nextdoor is free for residents. Each Maryland neighborhood has its own private Nextdoor neighborhood website, accessible only to verified residents of that neighborhood. Neighborhoods establish and self-manage their own website and MEMA will not be able to access residents’ websites, contact information, or content. All members must verify that they live within the neighborhood before joining. Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by Google or other search engines.

Residents interested in joining their neighborhood’s Nextdoor website can visit www.nextdoor.com and enter their address.

Maryland preparedness information can be accessed on the Maryland Emergency Management Agency’s website at mema.maryland.gov. You can also view the video of today’s announcement on MEMA’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/MDMEMA.