Small Factory and The City of New York Team Up To Help Families Prepare for Emergency

Jan. 7, 2012 - PRLog -- On September 26th, 2011, Small Factory Productions celebrated the premiere of its “Ready, Set, Prepare Yourself” and “Emergency Experts” cartoons at the New York City Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) “Ready Schools Partners in Preparedness” launch event at the Museum of Natural History. “Ready Schools” is a project of the OEM’s “Ready New York” program, which features informational guides and online resources to help New Yorkers prepare for all types of emergencies. In 2009, OEM and the Department of Education partnered to bring emergency preparedness education to elementary school classrooms, and today the program has grown from two colorful and creative guides to a suite of publications and videos.

In August 2011, OEM contracted Small Factory Productions to create cartoons based on
the principles of “Ready Schools” to teach school children about preparing for emergencies. Over the course of two weeks, staff from OEM and Small Factory guided campers at a Police Athletic League’s Beacon Camp at the Goldie Maple Academy in the Rockaways through the production company’s Create-a-Cartoon program.

The children in grades 3-5 drew original cartoon characters, created scripts and recorded voice-overs and songs for two cartoons. The cartoons, entitled “Ready, Set, Prepare Yourself” and “Emergency Experts” debuted at OEM’s “Partners in Preparedness” reception on September 26th at the American Museum of Natural History. To view the videos visit www.inbloomcomm.com.

“This cartoon, titled “Ready, Set, Prepare Yourself” was created in August 2011 so as Hurricane Irene approached life began to imitate art,” said Joseph H. Bruno, Commissioner of The New York City Office of Emergency Management. “Working with young people is one of the most rewarding and effective ways to instill messages and change behavior for the better. OEM is thrilled to have Small Factory’s cartoons to incorporate into our Ready Kids program.”

“Thanks to New York City’s Office of Emergency Management, children from across the five boroughs now have a better understanding of how to prepare for emergencies,” said Chris Dudick, President of Small Factory Productions. “Small Factory Productions was honored to be a part of this exciting project and only hopes that in 2012 the cartoons are tools for education that will not have to be put into action.”

About Small Factory Productions
Since 2008, Small Factory Productions, located on 560 River Road, Suite C in Fair Haven, NJ, has helped to build innovative young minds through its Emmy-Nominated children's arts and technology programs. Small Factory's teachers have created exciting arts programs that meet NJ and NY Core Content Standards for Language Arts, Literacy and Visual and Performing Arts. Students in classes at Small Factory's production studio and at more than 30 public and private schools across New York and New Jersey have improved, both academically and socially, thanks to Small Factory's unique curriculum. Visit www.mysmallfactory.com for more information.