Summer Youth Program in Madison County

This summer, the Red Cross provided the Youth Disaster Preparedness Program in Madison County for the first time. We were able to do this thanks to the Indiana United Way Disaster Fund. Adam M and Katie B from Indianapolis helped me to get the program up and running.

A special thanks goes out to Hannah, Dani, Kali, and Tom. With the help of these 4 youth leaders, we visited 8 locations in Madison County- in Anderson, Alexandria, Lapel, and Pendleton- doing a presentation and a follow-up session a week later at each site. This includes the YMCA, several daycare facilities, and school registration at the Wigwam. We gave a total of 10 disaster preparedness presentations to kids in grades K-8. Fifty kids completed their Family Disaster Plans, and 14 of those lucky kids won Emergency Preparedness Kits for their families.

A total of 293 Madison County kids were reached this summer!

I’ve really enjoyed this experience and I’m proud to know that 293 kids and their families are better prepared for disasters!

Thanks!

Katie Ayers

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.