iChallenge campaign launches for National Severe Weather Preparedness Week

BOYDTON, Va. - Feb. 28, 2014 - PRLog -- Students this year are being challenged to be prepared.  Fun online games and interactive links to help students prepare for severe weather are being shared online during National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, March 2 – 8.  The student educational materials are part of iChallenge, a campaign to help encourage students and their families to assess risk, create action plans and model best practices. Humanity Road is sharing the games for National Severe Weather preparedness week, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a national effort to remind communities and individuals to prepare for disasters and severe weather events.

“In order to engage students in awareness of severe weather events, we are sharing educational and engaging online games.  ‘Stop Disasters, a disaster simulation game, is an example of one of these.” said Cat Graham, Vice President for operations for Humanity Road.  “Through social media we encourage students to learn more about preparing for tornadoes, storms, floods, and other severe weather events.  From preschoolers to high school students, there is a full array of fun online material and education tools.”

"A community can only be prepared if all of the citizens living there are ready for the unexpected; this means including students as part of the plan"  says  Magi Shepley, a volunteer with Humanity Road and teacher at Park View High School in Loudoun County, VA.  Ms. Shepley helps support the vulnerable population campaign for Humanity Road to enhance readiness and preparedness education.

Ready.gov, NOAA and other partners have developed materials to aid teachers, parents and homeschoolers.  Humanity Road is driving the social media distribution for iChallenge which is being supported by high school student volunteers.   To access the iChallenge materials, follow Humanity Road’s @i_challenge Twitter account, which uses the hashtag #iChallenge and “like us” in Facebook as well,” continued Graham.

Founded in 2010, Humanity Road is a unique 501(c)(3) volunteer-based public charity that harnesses the power of the internet and mobile-based technologies to close the communications gap when natural disasters strike. Humanity Road is a leader in the field of online disaster response, providing social media disaster training and participating in both civilian and military communications exercises worldwide. Connect with Humanity Road on Facebook and Twitter @humanityroad, or to learn more about our unique volunteer-from-home program, visit http://humanityroad.org/volunteer.

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Severe Weather Preparedness Tips

Know Your Risk: The first step to becoming weather-ready is to learn how hazardous weather may affect you where you live and work, and how that weather could impact your family. Check the weather forecast regularly, obtain a NOAA Weather Radio, and learn about Wireless Emergency Alerts. Severe weather comes in many forms, so develop communication and shelter plans various types of local hazards.

Take Action: Before storms strike, develop a family communication plan and create or purchase an emergency supplies kit.

Be an Example:  Share your preparedness stories and photos with friends and family on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #SevereWXstory. Enhance your story with photos, videos or just an inspiring Tweet.  Let others know that you are prepared so that will encourage your community to prepare as well.