Contingency Planning

Kids Complete Disaster Exercise Training

September 24, 2007

During National Preparedness Month's Back-to-School week, Alabama wrapped up the first week of its second annual Be Ready Camp and graduated more than 50 Youth Preparedness Delegates. Students graduated from the Be Ready Camp the morning after completing a full-scale disaster exercise.

The Be Ready Camp is an educational experience for sixth-grade students focused on building preparedness skills for natural and man-made disasters. The curriculum includes an introduction to survival and first aid, disaster psychology and terrorism awareness, as well as instruction on creating a family emergency plan and an emergency supply kit.

The camp culminates in a disaster exercise, with kids stepping into the shoes of public safety professionals, such as police officers, firefighters, dive teams, doctors, soldiers and first responder volunteers. The mock disaster allows students to use the skills they learned during their time at camp and allows them to work side-by-side with actual first responders. During this exercise, the first responders quickly arrived on scene when students called for their assistance to rescue victims in the woods, water and smoke-filled buildings.

All Be Ready Camp activities, including the mock disaster exercises and graduations, are held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.

The Alabama Department of Homeland Security (AL DHS) and the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (GFBCI) believe the camp plants seeds by teaching students the importance of preparedness, as well as skills they can use in emergencies. AL DHS and GFBCI believe those seeds will grow into the future of first response in Alabama. "Be Ready Camp is a responsible investment in the future leadership of our state," says Alabama Homeland Security Director Jim Walker. "The young people learning about homeland security challenges today will make up Alabama's next generation of firefighters, police officers, soldiers and healthcare professionals." Executive Director of the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Sydney Hoffman says, "We know from last year's camp that these young people take the knowledge gained back to their homes, schools and churches. They are making their communities safer now and will continue to make a difference for years to come."

In 2006, Alabama's first Be Ready Camp acted as a pilot program, hosting only students from the greater Huntsville area. The camp's overwhelming success, however, has led to its expansion in 2007, and students from across the state were selected to participate. The camp is a reality, thanks to the support of Governor Bob Riley and the donations of generous corporate sponsors. FedEx, Toyota, EMS Innovations and Wal-Mart have each made sizable contributions because they believe in the mission of preparing today's students to be tomorrow's leaders. Also, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center works hand-in-hand with AL DHS and GFBCI in all phases of planning and execution of the Be Ready Camp.

- DHS