Port students learn how to prepare for disasters
PORT EDWARDS – As severe weather season begins in Wisconsin, more than 30 fifth-graders at Port Edwards Elementary learned Friday how to be prepared to respond in the event of a disaster or emergency.
The students are participating in the STEP, or Student Tools for Emergency Planning, program. The statewide program teaches fifth-graders how to be prepared for various emergencies and disasters, including tornadoes, flooding and storms. The program also shows students how to put together an emergency kit and develop an emergency plan with their families.
“With little to no warning, disasters and emergencies can happen to anyone at any time,” said principal Cara Christy. “That’s why we feel it is important to prepare our young people so they know what to do if disaster strikes.”
At the event, the students received their own STEP emergency bags. They also heard from officials from Wisconsin Emergency Management, Wood County Emergency Management and AT&T, as well as State Rep. Scott Krug, about actions they can take to be prepared in an emergency situation.
The 2016 STEP program is supported by a $15,000 AT&T Innovation & Investment Award.
Teachers are provided with all STEP materials at no cost to the schools, including instructor guides, DVDs and copies of student handouts. All students participating in the program receive an emergency kit to take home, which includes a flashlight. The basic lesson is only one hour of instruction, but teachers can expand the lessons to cover eight hours of materials.
Contributed by Jessica Erickson of AT&T.