Success StorySurvive and Thrive: Disaster Preparedness Series



Survive and Thrive: Disaster Preparedness Series

Author: Nanette Banks

Planning Unit: Letcher County CES

Major Program: Emergency Disaster Preparedness - FCS

Plan of Work: Improving Physical, Health and Mental Well-Being

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Describe the Issue or Situation.

Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur any time and often with little warning. Disasters take many forms, and we can feel their impacts across most areas of family life. Because there is no “one-size-fits-all” disaster model, planning community outreach can be challenging, and Cooperative Extension is often involved in disaster preparation and response at the local level. 

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

As a result of local needs, the County Extension Agents for Family and Consumer Sciences in Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Letcher, Leslie, Owsley, Perry, and Wolfe counties, along with the Agent on Special Assignment for Community Response and Recovery, developed and hosted the first program in a three-part series entitled, Survive and Thrive: Disaster Preparedness.  The focus of this event was on preparing your home and family for disasters by learning about weather alerts/warnings, by creating a family disaster emergency plan, and by building home disaster kits.  Participants were recruited by marketing efforts in local newspapers, on local radio, Extension newsletters, and county office social media platforms.  

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

Thirty-two individuals participated in the program representing both youth and adults living in disaster impacted counties in Kentucky.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

Following the event, participants completed evaluations.  100% of participants gained a better understanding of steps they could take in preparation for natural disasters.  100% of participants increased their understanding of how to find reliable resources on disaster preparation and/or response. Further, 100% of participants can better identify what items they should include in a disaster kit. Most importantly, 100% of participants reported they intended to assemble a disaster kit that fits their needs and 100% of participants shared they intend to create a disaster response plan. 

 

Participants specifically shared the most significant things they learned from the event were, “Building an emergency kit is important,” and “Plan now for possibilities later.”






Stories by Nanette Banks


Survive and Thrive: Disaster Preparedness Series

about 25 days ago by Nanette Banks

Describe the Issue or Situation.Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occ... Read More


Stories by Letcher County CES


Disaster Experience from 2022 Becomes Helping Hand Two Years Later

about 18 days ago by Shad Baker

The catastrophic flooding of 2022 left destruction in Eastern Kentucky, but it also left experience ... Read More


Survive and Thrive: Disaster Preparedness Series

about 25 days ago by Nanette Banks

Describe the Issue or Situation.Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occ... Read More


Stories by Emergency Disaster Preparedness - FCS


In the Face of Disaster

In the Face of Disaster

about 12 days ago by Karen Denniston

Success StoryKentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur any time and oft... Read More


In the Face of Disaster Bluegrass Area Collective Programming

In the Face of Disaster Bluegrass Area Collective Programming

about 27 days ago by Maranda Brooks

Kentuckians have experienced firsthand how natural disasters can occur any time and often with littl... Read More