FEMA Helps Prep Alabama Students For Emergencies

The school was hit by an EF 4 tornado that killed 9 people.

 

But Serve Alabama is working to make students are prepared, not just for severe weather, but for any emergency. 

 

Volunteers from the FEMA Corp helped put on this year’s Be Ready Camp. 

 

“It’s been really great being able to work with the 6th graders. We’ve got some really smart kids out there, and giving this information and getting them prepared has been an awesome experience. I’m really excited to see what they do with it,” said Mariah Jackson, a FEMA Corp member.

 

The volunteers are putting together materials so they can take the program across the country. 

Serve Alabama has been running this camp nearly 10 years.

 

Jon Mason, director of Serve Alabama, says it’s no surprise that the program has attracted so much attention.

 

“It’s really kind of the gold standard for youth preparedness camps across the country. It’s at the space and rocket center so it’s at a premier facility that’s known internationally. Then you have the Tennessee Valley First Responders, those are the firefighters, EMA offices and hospitals. They all come together to make this really special because the kids, the 6th graders are able to run a full mock disaster,” said Mason.

 

This is the first time FEMA Corp members have made the trip to Alabama. Mason says it’s been a big help in his office. 

 

“Really they’re giving us the groundwork. We have an eight person staff here, you add eight FEMA corp members for a few months and we really can do lots of work looking ahead and help us plan for the future,” said Mason. 

 

For more information on the Be Ready camp, click here.