Weekly Updates
SDSU sent e-mail updates to target audiences regarding the importance of each week during NPM. Each update highlighted the purpose of that week's topic, how to incorporate it, and other resources that were available for use.
Week One: An introduction of NPM, what to expect for the duration of the month, introduction of the week's theme, as well as imformation and links to; Get A Kit, kit assembly, and other resources.
Week Two: Information regarding the Make A Plan theme for the week, a list of information all family members should know, information about school preparation and senior citizens, and additional links to resources.
Week Three: Be Informed theme information, realistic examples of what kind of disasters can occur, where to learn more, and application of previously described examples. Provided links are the same as week two.
Week Four: Get involved theme information, Emergency Management Office contacts and description, examples of organizations for potential involvement, other volunteer opportunities.
Week Five: This section provides South Dakota with specific information about the Brookings Pandemic Planning and Coordination Committee. The key messages here regard the difference between pandemic influenza and the seasonal flu.
Youth Participation
SDSU offered a few different ways to interact with the local youth and inspire learning and understanding about disaster related issues. The variety of activities allowed many different age groups to be targeted. Suggested activities included:
Essay Contest: sponsored by the Brookings Pandemic Preparedness Coordination Committee, the contest was open to two divisions of students: the first for 5th graders and the second for 8th graders. Prize money and acertificate were given to the top three students in each division. The first place essay was also printed in the Brookings Register.
Hy-Vee Secret Word Contest: The local radio stations announced a word each day that would correspond to a phrase in the worksheet provided. Secret words all involved emergency or disaster preparedness The contest was sponsored in part by the Hy-Vee grocery store.
Are You Ready? Word Search: A word search that uses words commonly related to disaster situations, disaster kits, and the themes of NPM. This is easy to reproduce and give to students at a variety of different age levels.
Buzz Bee Ready Coloring Sheet: Another learning tool that is easy to reproduce and for younger children to utilize. It uses a bumble bee character to associate disaster preparedness.
Web site for Kids: http://www.breadysd.com/kids.cfm provides activities, printable pdf's, games, puzzles, lesson plans and other materials when preparing to address an adolescent audience.
Publications
SDSU provided additional information about preparedness through communication pieces that could be distributed at many different locations. These pieces could be distributed throughout the year, not just during NPM. Audiences would vary, but the messages provided were very concise and easy to understand. Flyers and table tents were used as communication tools.
Web Site
www.bReadySD.com
This Web site provides great resources for the state of South Dakota geared specifically toward their disaster awareness/preparedness needs. Different topic areas include:
- bReady for Anything
- bReady Anywhere
- bReady Kids
- bReady Kit
- bReady Plan
- Guidebook
- Governor's Message
Each of these topics can be reached from the homepage. There are internal links and external links that provide more detail on each of the topic areas. A common theme is used throughout and navigation is simple for the general public to use.
Also available was the Be Ready Brookings Web site that provided information specific to the Brookings area.
Partners
South Dakota State University was able to partner with many key organizations in the state that contributed to their content. These organizations have national affiliation or have a similar group in many other states. Partners included: