hood Emergency Services Team concept, or N.E.S.T. By providing the organization, company, school or neighborhood with its own first responder and self-reliant capability for up to 72 hours following an incident, emergency needs are addressed. During the 1990 "killer earthquake" in Baguio City, people who were trapped in the rubble were saved by well meaning by-standers. However, some of these who were saved were saved at considerable risk to the life and limb of the some of the rescuers. This risk is unnecessary, which N.E.S.T. seeks to minimize if not eliminate. Neighbors who will be helping their neighbors in an emergency will be properly educated in the rudiments of the following:

N.E.S.T is a forty hour course presented in five (5) 8-hour increments, it is capped by a field exercise that will assess the neighborhood's capability to address their most pressing threat. The benefits of conducting a N.E.S.T program are priceless and many. Foremost, the community becomes a first responder - self-reliant entity better equipped and educated to address related concerns. N.E.S.T. is the perfect Community Relations vehicle. Sponsors of N.E.S.T. programs will find a conduit for improved relations with their beneficiaries. Clusters of N.E.S.T. educated communities will open opportunities for better-quality networking that broadens beyond emergency services into other self-help programs such as livelihood programs, neighborhood watch programs, etc.

The reality in any country is that when disaster strikes, professional teams and aid agencies may take a dangerously long time in coming to the aid of the victims. This may be caused by damaged roads, collapsed bridges, or simply, heavy traffic spawned by the disaster itself. From this critical need was born the Neighbor-