Implementing a hazardous-weather awareness week
Abstract
As part of the activities to promote weather safety, Florida's Emergency Management Agencies, American Red Cross Chapters, National Weather Service Offices and Department of Education have sponsored a Hazardous Weather Awareness Week Poster Contest each year since 2000. The contest is open to all students in fourth and fifth grades, and increases awareness of potential disasters and disaster preparedness and mitigation. Chris Floyd shared these ideas on the DisasterDiscussions e-mail discussion list, in January 2003.Issue
Teaching students and citizens how to be prepared to respond to disasters -- both natural and manmade.Action
According to Chris Floyd, Emergency Services Director of the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in Tallahassee, Florida, the following effective practices are used to promote disaster awareness and education in Florida:
Hazardous Weather Awareness Week is designed to teach Floridians about the dangers of hazardous weather and how to be prepared by developing plans to respond to them.
Since 2000, Florida's Emergency Management Agencies, American Red Cross Chapters, National Weather Service Offices and the State of Florida Department of Education have sponsored a Hazardous Weather Awareness Week Poster Contest. The poster contest is part of the activities to promote weather safety during Hazardous Weather Awareness Week.
Rules and Style:
- The contest is open to any Florida student enrolled in fourth or fifth grades.
- Posters must be submitted on poster or illustration board.
- The overall dimensions should be approximately 15" by 20".
- All artwork must be original and may be any media with the exception of pencil, chalk, charcoal or glitter.
- Stenciled, traced, computer-generated or commercially manufactured stick-on lettering or graphics are prohibited.
- Posters must be packed, wrapped flat and mailed.
- Posters are judged on the clarity of the preparedness message and the quality of the art.
- Artist's name, age, grade, home address, telephone number and names of parents should appear on the back of the poster.
- School's name, address and telephone number along with the name of the art instructor or classroom teacher, should appear on the back of the poster if appropriate.
- To assist in promoting the contest, the American Red Cross Florida Chapter posts a contest rule flyer on their website.
- First, second and third prizes are $100, $50 and $25 savings bonds respectively.
- Top ten runners-up receive NOAA Weather Radios.
- The top judged poster from each County School District is displayed in the Rotunda of the State Capital during Florida's Hazardous Weather Awareness Week.
- A participation certificate is available on the website to recognize all students who participate in the contest.
- A special certificate is mailed to students who are judged the best in their county.
Education:
To assist students in preparing the appropriate message for their poster, a web site was created with a comprehensive library of disaster education, preparedness, planning and mitigation articles, brochures, fact sheets, checklists and publications from a wide variety of sources to support disaster preparedness and planning activities in the home, neighborhood, workplace, school and community.
Publicity:
A Hazardous Weather Awareness Poster Contest Press Conference was held during the month preceding the contest in the rotunda of the State Capital. Director of the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management, Craig Fugate, was one of the distinguished speakers.
The State of Florida Division of Emergency Management produces a website called "Get a Plan!", with separate plans for families businesses.
Since 1999, the Capital Area of the American Red Cross has asked its city and county commissions to sign a Hazardous Weather Awareness Week Proclamation.
Context
The Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is headquartered in the capital city of Tallahassee, Florida. This chapter serves Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties, providing assistance for Armed Forces Emergency Services, Health & Safety Services and Disaster Services.Outcome
Because of the efforts of the Capital Chapter of the American Red Cross, emergency management agencies, and parents and schools, students and citizens are better informed about the risks of natural and manmade disasters, and have greater information and skills to cope with a disaster should one occur.Evidence
For the 2003 Hazardous Weather Awareness Week Poster Contest (February 16 - 27) 217 posters were received from contestants in 11 counties throughout Florida.Posted On
April 7, 2003For More Information