FEMA in the Classroom Program Launches in Mississippi Gulf Coast Schools

BILOXI, Miss., July 1, 2008 -- Lights, camera, action! The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office (TRO) raised the curtain on a new initiative created especially for young citizens. FEMA in the Classroom is designed to empower and educate elementary school-age children to protect themselves, their families and their pets.

The program, designed by Public Affairs staff from FEMA's Mississippi TRO, uses various hands-on projects and other activities to explain disaster preparedness topics such as creating a family disaster kit, drafting a family communications plan and pet preparedness.

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Recently, nearly 60 elementary school students from the Pascagoula School District Summer Exploration Program gathered in the Pascagoula High School library to hear the story of the three little pigs with an educational twist. The play serves as a vehicle to demonstrate the importance of mitigation, which is building and protecting property from future disasters.

"Our kindergarten through second grade students were pleasantly entertained with the puppet show," said Principal Peggy Feinberg from the Pascagoula School District. "Our students were taught about the word mitigation and how they could strengthen their homes and make them safer. The puppets actively engaged our students while teaching them a valuable lesson."

The children also learned about the contents of a family disaster kit and created their own virtual kit to reinforce the lesson and share with parents what should be included.

"Our third through fifth grade students were actively engaged with the presentation and the hands-on activity that taught them how to construct an effective disaster kit," said Feinberg. "As parents were picking up their students, I heard many of the students reminding them of the importance of a disaster kit. They were eager to assist in building one for their family."

One of the topics covered in the 20-30 minute informational sessions is the FEMA for Kids Web site. The site, initiated in 1997, presents colorful graphics, games, quizzes, and original stories to help young users absorb as much disaster preparedness information as possible.

Students received a special FEMA in the Classroom bag with fun reading materials for them and their parents. For more information about FEMA in the Classroom, please contact Cheryl Bozeman or Neily Chapman at 228-594-3068.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Source: FEMA