Summer Youth Preparedness

The American Red Cross youth and educational outreach department has been having a busy summer. Though school is out and the youth of Indianapolis are scattered around neighborhoods, we’ve been working with the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club to provide relevant information and fun presentations to kids at summer day camps. Teaching the program are two amazing AmeriCorps*VISTA workers, Cara McCord and Katie Burkhardt. When asked about the summer education efforts Cara said, “Teaching youth about Disaster Preparedness is imperative in our world today. The youth play a major role in changing the future world and being prepared for the unexpected is a good place to start.”

With the weather being as unpredictable as ever lately, the need to teach kids how to be prepared has become a major priority. The youth have been witnesses to the destruction and chaos that can be caused by tornadoes, floods and multiple other disasters. The presentations about being ready for such events give them something to relate to and teach them valuable skills. The focus has been getting families educated on the importance of having a disaster supplies kit and making sure everyone has a disaster plan. So far the kids have responded with enthusiasm and interest which ensures us that when the time comes, these kids will be ready!

For more information on disasters and how to be prepared, please visit the American Red Cross website at http://www.redcross-indy.org/ or by purchasing a disaster supplies kit at your local American Red Cross.