Proactive Approach to Preparedness: Getting Ready Younger
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Release date:
November 26,
2012
Release Number:
19
SAN JUAN, PR –If
new generations are raised with emergency preparedness awareness as an inherent
part of their early education, communities will become smarter and more
resilient sooner. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supports this
approach since dependable preparedness plans equal a swifter recovery for
individuals, local, state and federal governments after a disaster.
“Our communities need to get better prepared to rapidly respond
to emergencies and if we reach this younger audience earlier, emergency
preparedness will be a familiar subject, but most importantly, they will be
ready sooner. Youngsters have a significant influence on their peers and
families, which may drive this preparedness message further on,” said FEMA’s
Caribbean Area Division Director, Alejandro De La Campa.
For this reason, FEMA established the first Youth Preparedness
Council to discuss and promote steps meant to strengthen the nation’s resiliency
against all types of disasters. This Council is comprised of 13 youth leaders
(ages 13 – 17) from each of FEMA’s 10 regions, which will develop and conclude
their emergency preparedness projects in two years.
13-year old Humacao resident, Gabriela Rodriguez-Boria, is
FEMA’s Region II Youth Council representative. Puerto Rico is one of the
jurisdictions under Region II, which also includes New York, New Jersey and the
US Virgin Islands. With her project, Gabriela seeks opportunities to prepare
youngsters to be ready before and after a disaster strikes, making communities
in Puerto Rico more emergency resilient through its budding members. She is
organizing a Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) of approximately
15-20 students at her school and plans to replicate this program in other
schools in neighboring communities, and eventually to all Region II
jurisdictions.
The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness
for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster
response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team
organization, and disaster medical operations. Youngsters can involve their
schools, neighbors, churches, families and friends in similar initiatives where
they can acquire surviving tools for future emergencies. Young minds bring fresh
eyes and new perspectives to any preparedness endeavour, therefore FEMA
encourages their contribution in emergency planning and readiness for our
communities.
There is additional information about the Youth
Council at www.citizencorps.gov/getstarted/youth/youthindex. If you are
interested in becoming a CERT member, locate the nearest CERT team or check for
upcoming training opportunities, visit www.citizencorps.gov/cert. Learn more about emergency
preparedness and how to improve your community resiliency to emergency
situations by visiting www.fema.gov or www.ready.gov.
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FEMA’s mission is
to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work
together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect
against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all
hazards.
Last Updated:
December 7, 2012 -
11:12
State or Region:
Region II and Puerto Rico
http://www.fema.gov/news-release/proactive-approach-preparedness-getting-ready-younger
