Milwaukie residents have until 5 p.m. Friday, October 16, to help the city understand which people, organizations and places the community would rely on during an emergency.

The Resilient Together Milwaukie survey asks about trusted sources of assistance and includes a mapping activity where participants can identify locations that feel especially important or vulnerable.

One portion takes roughly five to ten minutes, making this a practical civic task that can fit into a lunch break, an evening at home or a few quiet minutes before the deadline.

The questions focus on real community connections rather than testing disaster knowledge, so participants do not need training in emergency management to provide useful answers.

Think about who checks on older neighbors, where people naturally gather, which groups share reliable information and what places might become difficult to reach during a disruption.

Preparedness is strongest when plans reflect how people actually seek help, not only how an organizational chart says assistance should move.

Faith communities, schools, apartment networks, neighborhood associations, service providers and informal groups of friends may all become essential links when normal routines stop working.

The mapping activity adds a geographic layer by inviting residents to point out trusted spaces and areas where transportation, power loss, flooding or isolation could create added risk.

A map can reveal patterns that a written comment misses, especially when several participants identify the same gathering point, barrier or overlooked part of town.

Registration is required to participate, but responses are described as anonymous, allowing residents to share candid observations without attaching their names to the published feedback.

People may complete either activity or both, although doing the survey and map together gives planners a fuller picture of community relationships and physical locations.

Before opening the form, take a moment to list the first three people or organizations you would contact during a serious local emergency and the first safe place you would consider going.

That quick exercise can make the questions easier to answer while exposing gaps worth addressing in a household plan after the survey is submitted.

Parents, caregivers, renters, homeowners, business operators and people with disabilities may notice very different strengths and obstacles, which is precisely why broad participation matters.

Milwaukie’s resilience depends on more than supplies stored in individual homes; it also depends on communication, mutual aid, trusted messengers and places people can reach safely.

Residents who already feel well prepared can still contribute by identifying resources others may not know about, while those who feel uncertain can name the support they wish existed.

Because the page was updated this week and the window closes Friday afternoon, waiting until the weekend will be too late for this round of input.

Complete the activity as soon as possible, invite another household member to share a separate perspective and use the conversation as a prompt to review contact information, meeting points and basic supplies.