Freeport Emergency Resilient Neighborhood (FERN) Hubs
What's a Hub?
Freeport Emergency Resilient Neighborhood (FERN) Hubs are small, localized neighborhood groups of 5-20 homes that help prepare the neighborhood for weather or other emergencies.
Hubs are super-local, informal and voluntary. Building relationships and alternate communication networks are the key!
How will you contact each other or emergency services if the phone lines, cell towers and the internet go down?
By helping neighbors plan and work together, Hubs provide super local ways to be informed before and during emergencies, know who to rely on for everything from a chain saw or generator to first aid treatment, and to know which vulnerable neighbors might need assistance.
Why?
The Hubs are intended to prepare and organize neighbors to help each other stay safe during a wide variety of emergencies. From floods and wildfires to ice storms and heat waves, weather related emergencies have become more frequent and intense. Realistically, we also face potential community emergencies like active shooters or other crises.
The double storm of January 2024 wrecked havoc in Freeport and coastal Maine. Flooding in the harbor and Porter's Landing was historic.
Want to get involved?
Want to get involved?
There are many ways to get involved in a Neighborhood Hub. Because Hubs are local to your neighborhood, you can decide with your neighbors how you want your particular Hub to function. Maybe you want to host meetings, share information, start an email chain, research resources or complete a Hub equipment sheet.
Start by attending an information session to explore Neighborhood Hubs. Contact FERN to learn more!
Who is in Charge?
What's Next? Come to a Meeting!
Want to get involved?
Hubs are super-local! Each Hub will choose its own Coordinator. The Coordinator will keep in touch with the general FERN team and other Hub coordinators to share and relay information. Your group will plan and agree on assigning roles to each member so that before an emergency strikes, each person will already know where to go and be well prepared for what to do.
What's Next? Come to a Meeting!
What's Next? Come to a Meeting!
What's Next? Come to a Meeting!
The next Neighborhood Hub meeting is:
6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, May 7, 2026
Community Hall, South Freeport Church
Existing FERN Hubs 5/6/26
What's Next? Come to a Meeting!
What's Next? Come to a Meeting!
You can create your own FERN Hub. Contact us at freeporthubs@gmail.com so we can help you get started! It's a great way to get to know your neighbors and feel more secure in an emergency.