Now Accepting Youth Preparedness Council Applications

The next generation of emergency management leaders is out
there. They have the ideas, leadership and initiative needed to
make a difference. Every year, FEMA recruits these individuals as
part of its Youth Preparedness Council and helps to empower them to
prepare their communities for disasters.

The council was created in 2012 to bring together youth leaders
interested in supporting disaster preparedness and making a
difference in their communities with national and local
preparedness projects. Members voice their opinions, experiences,
ideas, solutions and questions on youth disaster preparedness with
the leadership of FEMA and national organizations working on youth
preparedness. They also participate in the annual Youth
Preparedness Council Summit.

Past participants have presented at national conferences,
created youth preparedness outreach products and designed and
executed community preparedness fairs. They have also developed
events and products relevant to the current pandemic, such as
hosting youth-focused webinars with health experts and writing a
storybook for young children about COVID-19. Some council members
have started their own local emergency preparedness initiatives and
worked with emergency management professionals from federal, state
and local agencies to encourage the public, particularly youth, to
take life-saving preparedness actions. In the past, council members
have had the opportunity to meet with the White House, the FEMA
Administrator, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
the Centers for Disease and Prevention and other federal agencies
to give their perspective and participation to other national-level
projects.

Participants are expected to provide a youth perspective on
emergency preparedness and promote national emergency preparedness
in their communities. In addition to attending the Youth
Preparedness Council Summit, council members will potentially
participate in national, regional, state and local preparedness
meetings and present their work. Members will meet with FEMA on a
regular basis via conference call to provide ongoing input on
strategies, initiatives and projects throughout the duration of
their two-year term.

Any individual grades 8th through 11th who is engaged in
individual and community preparedness may apply to serve on the
Youth Preparedness Council. Individuals interested in applying to
the council must submit a completed application and a letter of
recommendation. Specific information about completing and
submitting the application and attachments can be found on the
FEMA
website.

All applications and supporting materials must be received no
later than 11:59 PT on March 7 to be eligible.