Having Fun Learning About Emergency Preparedness

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- You can never be too prepared for an emergency situation.

On Sunday, United Way of Lowndes County held a 9/11 Disaster Prep Rally to help educate students on how to prepare themselves for when disaster strikes.

“It is so important to know about the awareness of what to do, especially in today’s time when it something going on all the time,” said Hannah Sanders, president of the Columbus Mayor’s Youth Council.

“We learned that it took seven months for the last child to be reunited with his family after hurricane Katrina, and that was just for that child not knowing all of the contact information, what’s their parents full name ,and address, and we are making sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Renee Sanders, volunteer center director for United Way.

And to make sure it doesn’t happen again, local agencies set up booths and gave students tips and advice on what to do in case disaster strikes.

“I basically learned how to just be aware, to know about your surroundings, and pay attention, and to have a plan,” said Cameron Wilson, vice president of the Columbus Mayor’s Youth Council.

“One thing I learned is to always have an emergency bag under your bed because you never know what may happen over night,” said Chris Weems of the Columbus Mayor’s Youth Council.

WCBI’s weather team was also on hand to give students advice.

“We talked about recognizing the risks. our fall tornado season is rapidly approaching and we want everyone to have the tools and everything they need so they can be as prepared as the can be,” said Issac Williams, WCBI Meteorologist.

Being and staying prepared is crucial. One fun tool the students are using to help them stay prepared is a song and dance they created called the “Prep Walk.”

“I’ve always learned that doing something fun along with learning, it always just sticks,” said Reed Hairston, historian of the Columbus Mayor’s Youth Council.

Students created their own dance moves and came up with their own lyrics based off of the information they learned from the prep rally.

“One of them is, in case of an emergency I’ll know who to call, so that’s basically talking about the contacts, who to call, having three contacts in each city,” said Wilson.

Over one hundred volunteers came out to be apart of the event.