As a way to recognize and celebrate September as National Preparedness Month, Nebraska Extension is partnering with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Nebraska’s emergency management–first responder community to launch the 2022 Nebraska Extension Disaster Preparedness Challenge – a friendly competition to see which office or unit is the most prepared for future disaster events.
The purpose of this Challenge is to not only highlight the work and collaborative efforts already happening through Extension offices across the state, but also build and enhance partnerships within and between communities, organizations, and stakeholders. It is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the roles Extension has played during and after emergencies of recent years, as well as a chance to foster new relationships while providing information, resources, and a model of disaster preparedness for the community at large.
Extension offices, research units, and University departments are asked to submit an itemized list of the contents of their office’s disaster preparedness kit, to be evaluated and scored by a panel of judges and experts, with winners announced as part of the next Extension Huddle in September.
Submissions are to be sent to this email address – nema.preparednesschallenge@nebraska.gov
When submitting, the subject line of your email should read: “Preparedness Challenge Submission – [County, Office, Unit, or Department Name]”
Disaster preparedness kits will be judged on four (4) primary categories: Efficiency and Portability; Completeness; Sustainability; Creativity.
Optional bonus points are available for photos and videos of the kit, its contents, endorsement letters from local officials, and much more. [These photos and videos are items that can easily be adapted and re-posted on your social media pages as additional forms of outreach and learning opportunities for the general public.]
You will be receiving messages each week with new, sharable infographics on both this Challenge as well as disaster preparedness in a general, universal sense, between now and mid-September. And there will be many more announcements, webinars, trainings, conferences, and learning opportunities before and during National Preparedness Month, which are also well worth sharing in your networks and communities.
Also, as a way to get you started – or to help generate new ideas – Ready.gov has an abundance of preparedness-related information worth exploring (and sharing):
-Build A Kit | Ready.gov
-Ready Emergency Supply List
-Low and No Cost Preparedness | Ready.gov
The nema.preparednesschallenge@nebraska.gov email address is available at any time for any questions, clarifications, concerns, or issues you may have.
More details at: https://disaster.unl.edu/Preparedness-Challenge