Over the last year (2025) across the state of Kentucky, families have been faced with all kinds of disasters from flooding, tornadoes, and winter snow storms.  In order to meet these ongoing challenges, Kentucky State University’s family and consumer science (FCS) extension agent decided to complete a series of classes on disaster preparedness. For a big part of the 5 part series, the FCS Extension agent, partnered with the Community Resource Development educator from the West Louisville area, to identify ways for seniors and families to prevent losses during various kinds of disasters from snow storms to Floods. Within the 5-part series, the goal of the program was to assist families with mitigating losses prior to a disaster and after a disaster for families with a home/apartment, business, or farm.

There was a total of about 187 participants over the course of five months (Dec. 2024-April 2025) that participated in the program, who all did learn how to identify several mitigation strategies and processes that can have assisted them.  The program participants were all provided with pre and post surveys for this program. Based on the evaluations about 95% of the program participants learned something new about preparing for a disaster. Here are some things that they learned from the series: how to save their financial documents in a flood, how to create an emergency kit, and how to prepare to leave their home in the case of an evacuation. They also learned several techniques on how to shelter in place. In attention to the surveys we also got to read several testimonial statements about how much the program participants enjoyed the disaster preparedness program and were able to develop a family communication plan in order to prepare for any upcoming disasters. 

One of the programs that seemed to get the most positive client feedback was a program on creating a disaster kit (partial kit, only some supplies provided, program participants were encouraged to continue to build their kits). This program allowed the program participants to get a few items to start their emergency kits.  They received whistles, emergency medical cards, flashlights (travel size) and also some printed resources on how to download the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) app on to know where the next disaster will strike next.  The app also provides a map on how to locate any local shelters and also phone numbers to call to get other assistance on other things food, transportation, etc. The last program that was the most informative was session on financial considerations. The program participants did get some information on how to keep their documents safe in a flood and/or tornado to keep the documents from being destroyed. Several of the program participants shared stories of evacuating over the recent months to avoid certain storms whether it was for the flooding or the winter storms and how some of them were able to use some of the items that they received to help them prepare for the disaster. Overall this program made a tremendous impact on the citizens within the Hardin County.  

Pictured Above: Senior participants at Emergency Preparedness program watching  powerpoint presentation.

Pictured Above: Kentucky State University's Community Resource development educator, Cameron Sellers, leads powerpoint presentation on "Disaster Preparedness session on Extreme Weather."

Pictured Above: Factsheet on Seasonal Disaster Preparedness for the seniors during one of the sessions on Disaster preparedness featured in the series. 

Pictured Above: FCS Extension Agent, Chandra DeRamus, in Hardin County presents information for session on "Financial Considerations After a Disaster, Avoiding Scams."

Pictured Above: Seniors at Wesley Hilltop Community center gathering for a warm lunch after beginning session on "Preparing for Winter Weather and Power Outages."

Pictured Above: Winter bags of resources for the program participants for session on "Preparing for Winter Weather Power Outages."

Pictured Above: Kentucky State University (KSU) FCS Extension Agent, Chandra DeRamus working with senior after disaster preparedness program. 

Pictured Above: Community Resource development educator, Cameron Sellers, and FCS Extension Agent, Chandra DeRamus ending a session on "Extreme Weather Preparedness at the Wesley Hilltop community center. 

Pictured Above: Disaster Preparedness kits with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and Emergency medical cards, w/whistle.