Printed Community Handout Materials

Some of the informational handouts that PBEM hands out. Subject to availability!

xUNDER CONSTRUCTIONx

In-Print Handouts
PocketPrep	en	es
BEECN Postcards	en	es
Pee/Poo Bucket Stickers	en	es
24-Week Family Preparedness Shopping List	en
Water Storage/Treatment Postcards	en
Water Heater Hang Tags	en
Pet Notification Stickers	en
NET Brochures	en

Community outreach on August 29, 2018. Laura Hall pictured on right.

PocketPrep

PBEM debuted the PocketPreps on August 18, 2019. The PocketPrep was designed and printed with the following considerations in mind:

• Reduce the number of handouts PBEM prints to a single piece. We were only moderately successful on that, but it did reduce four handouts down to one.
• Create something that recipients want to hang onto instead of recycling. This was done with eye catching design and providing space for for people to write in information. That worked well enough that Z-CARD North America uses PocketPrep as a product sample for getting emergency prep communications into peoples' hands.
• Make it durable. PocketPreps are printed on waterproof, tear-resistant paper.
• Make it portable. Unfolded, it measures about 23" x 9". But it folds down to the size of a credit card.

There are a few production drawbacks, however:

• They're expensive...about $1.50 a piece. That means we need to encourage NETs and neighbors to have conversations with people about them instead of simply handing them out.
• The file design formats are challenging to edit; only a professional graphic designer would be able to do it. That can make updates and getting these translated into other languages difficult.
• That they are printed on durable paper means that folks can only write on them using ballpoint pen or a pencil (gel ink slides right off).
• So far, we've only found one vendor who can print them cost effectively (Z-CARD).

Specifications

Printed, foldable information brochures with outer cards. Outer Cards: 3 3/8” X 2 1/8” – 18 pt C1S Board with Gloss coating. Inner Sheets: 23 ¼ ” X 9 ¼” – .0042” Polyart Synthetic text paper. Colors: Outers: 4/0, Inners: 4/4. Illustrations were completed by Hugh Newell. Krista Gust with the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability completed layout and graphic design.

Project history

After a few months of design work and stakeholder vetting/feedback, PBEM ordered the first print run (partially funded by the UASI 16 grant) in May 2019, for August delivery. The initial run proved popular and prompted a second run in March 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic effectively shut down opportunities to distribute PocketPrep from March 2020 to 2022. PBEM wouldn't order another run until August 2023 (also funded by a UASI grant). It was this third print run that debuted PocketPrep in Spanish. In early 2023, the text of the PocketPrep was translated into Vietnamese and Simplified Chinese as well. However, PBEM has so far been unable to fund a print run of PocketPreps in those languages.

PocketPrep Instructions

Because of their cost and our interest keeping material out of the waste stream, PocketPrep was designed not to be a typical government hand-out-and-toss piece of swag. Having a conversation about PocketPrep with someone is just as important as getting it into someone's hands. Therefore, requests for quantities of PocketPrep will also include one-sheets that explain to volunteers how they should distribute PocketPreps. .PocketPrep Instructions.You can download a PDF of the instructions HERE.

The "PocketPrep Instructions" read like this:

.PocketPrep Instructions.

Thank you for helping us promote community resilience through outreach! This sheet is intended to offer some guidance on talking with folks about the PocketPrep handout, and disaster preparedness.

• PLEASE DO spend a minute or so to have a conversation about what is in the PocketPrep. At your outreach table, have one or two unfolded for display. As someone looks it over, try to discuss these points (not necessarily in this order):
  • Describe what a BEECN is and encourage them to find their own with the map, and write down their BEECN on the “warning and information” section;
  • Encourage them to visit Public Alerts (publicalerts.org) and register when they get home, where they can also find more info putting a preparedness kit together;
  • Emphasize the need to store at least 14 gallons of water per person in their household, and that shelf-stable food and a first aid kit are the next priorities;
  • Talk about the twin-bucket system and take your own if you can (kids love ‘em);
  • Use a pencil or ballpoint pen to fill out some of the blanks with them;
  • Explain Drop/Cover/Hold during an earthquake;
  • If you are a NET volunteer and the recipient is curious about disaster response, talk about your own NET experience, encourage them to join, and point out the link on the PocketPrep for more information.

• PLEASE DO NOT distribute PocketPrep without an opportunity to explain it to the person receiving it. Not everyone will want to have a conversation, and that’s OK. The important thing is to open the door for curious people.
• PLEASE DO encourage people to use ballpoint pen or pencil on the PocketPrep. Because it is water and tear resistant paper, a gel pen or marker will smudge off.
• PLEASE DO NOT leave an unattended stack of PocketPrep for passers-by to pick up and take with them.
• PLEASE DO feel encouraged to give a short presentation to an audience on PocketPrep and to distribute PocketPrep to folks in the audience.