National Preparedness Month 2019 – Week 3

September is National Preparedness Month.

The theme for week three is Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters.

Emergencies and disasters can happen at any time, often without warning. Disaster planning, response, and recovery efforts must take into account the unique needs of children, who make up roughly a quarter of the U.S. population.

Starting or getting involved with a youth preparedness program is a great way to enhance a community’s resilience and help develop future generations of prepared adults. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers numerous resources that can help.

FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council

FEMA created the Youth Preparedness Council (YPC) in 2012 to bring together young leaders who are interested in supporting disaster preparedness and making a difference in their communities, by completing disaster preparedness projects nationally and locally. The YPC supports FEMA’s commitment to involve America’s youth in preparedness-related activities. It also provides an avenue to engage young people by taking into account their perspectives, feedback, and opinions. YPC members meet with FEMA staff throughout their term to provide input on strategies, initiatives, and projects. YPC members also attend the annual YPC Summit in Washington, DC, meet periodically with FEMA representatives, and work to complete a number of emergency preparedness projects. The YPC members are selected based on their dedication to public service, their efforts in making a difference in their communities, and their potential to expand their impact as national supporters of youth preparedness.

Prepare with Pedro: Disaster Preparedness Activity Book

Prepare with Pedro: Disaster Preparedness Activity Book is a joint product of FEMA and the American Red Cross. Prepare with Pedro is designed to encourage youth and their families to be better prepared for disasters by offering safety advice alongside crosswords, coloring pages, matching games, and more.

Obtain copies of the activity book, now in both English and Spanish!

  1. Download and print by visiting: Prepare with Pedro: Disaster Preparedness Activity Book
  2. Order printed copies for free through the publication warehouse online or by phone at 1-800-480-2520 request publication number #2005 for the English version or publication number #2035 for the Spanish version.

Ready 2 Help

Ready 2 Help is a card game that teaches youth how to stay safe and help in emergency situations. Ready 2 Help can be played by 2-4 players ages 8 and above. Parents, coaches, teachers, and other youth leaders can use the game and companion book to teach kids how to react to emergencies in a fun and friendly way. The game encourages discussion about preparedness using five simple steps: Stay Safe, Stay Calm, Get Help, Give Info, and Give Care. Everyone can play and learn!

Obtain copies of the card game and companion book –

National Strategy for Youth Preparedness Education

Developed by FEMA, the U.S. Department of Education, and the American Red Cross, the National Strategy for Youth Preparedness Education presents nine steps partners can take to help build a Nation of prepared youth. The steps focus on building partnerships to enhance youth preparedness learning programs; connecting young people with their families, communities, first responders, and other youth; and increasing preparedness at school.

9 Priority Steps for Creating a Nation of Prepared Youth

  1. Elevate the importance of youth preparedness learning programs at the national, state, and local levels.
  2. Evaluate the quality and effectiveness of existing and new youth preparedness programs.
  3. Support the implementation of youth preparedness learning programs.
  4. Create positive relationships between youth and the first responder community.
  5. Link youth preparedness to family and community participation, especially in communities where English may not be the first language spoken (or understood) among adults, in other underrepresented communities, and inclusive of individuals with access and functional needs.
  6. Make school preparedness a key component of youth preparedness.
  7. Build and strengthen productive partnerships among stakeholder agencies and organizations.
  8. Identify opportunities to embed youth preparedness in youth culture.
  9. Design a sustaining, locally driven model for developing, designing, and delivering programming.

Join the National Strategy Movement

Help us propel the youth preparedness movement! By aligning your organization’s activities with one or more of the National Strategy’s nine priority steps, you are joining a network of prominent public- and private-sector organizations that are dedicated to promoting youth preparedness and building a more resilient Nation. Find out how to affirm the National Strategy, or email FEMA-Youth-Preparedness@fema.dhs.gov for more information.