Kid's Essay Contest Winners
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Farmington Hills, MI
Spring Storms
by Brooke Shepard
Do you ever wish you could turn back the clock after a disaster happens to you? Ever wish you could have been prepared? You don't have to turn back the clock. You can prepare for it right now. Some emergencies are natural, and they aren't your fault. Other times, things are a crisis because you aren't prepared.
Before my family heard about this essay, we didn't have a plan for emergencies like:
- severe thunderstorms
- tornadoes
- power outages
The supplies we thought were important were canned fruit and vegetables, a can opener, plastic silverware, one gallon of water per person, per day, a first aid kit including bandages, cleaning alcohol, medicine, petroleum jelly, and something to read or keep you busy if you're bored. We will replace everything that is expired every six months. If there is a severe storm, my family and I decided to go in the basement, where we will probably use our flashlight with extra batteries, matches, candles (make sure there is nothing around the candle that could burn!), and a wireless radio.
I'm not the only one who can get involved! You can too! You can tell your parents that you want to feel confident about severe weather when it happens, and when it does, you're ready.
(back to the top)Having a Plan
by Caleb Wright
When severe weather hits, I know my family will be safe because we have a PLAN. We are Prepared. We have a Location. We are Accountable. We are ready Now. Having a PLAN will not stop disaster but will help our family ride through a disaster situation safely.
- Prepared. Our family is prepared because we know in advance what we are going to do. We know what jobs need to be done such as grabbing flashlights, getting grandma, getting our dog, and getting the emergency food and water.
- Location. Our safe location is in our lower level where there are no windows and is structurally sound to withstand a severe storm. Having a place for everyone to go guarantees the safety of our family. Also having this location allows us to know who is not here and what needs to be done in severe weather.
- Accountable. Everyone in our family has a role and is responsible for carrying it out in severe weather. My role in a disaster is to get emergency food and water down to our location. My parents are responsible for the flashlights and grandma. Each of my brothers also has roles and knows what to do.
- Now. In severe weather there is no time to delay. If you delay disaster could strike. Our family will take decisive quick action. We will be ready NOW.
Having a PLAN does not guarantee that nothing bad will happen, but having a PLAN gives our family a fighting chance against severe weather. I think everyone should have a plan like our family. We have a PLAN for severe weather. We have a PLAN for a fire. We have a PLAN for everything. We are prepared!
(back to the top)Be Prepared, Be Aware, Just Be Safe
by Christe Thompson
Since the recent weather danger my family has been very cautious and prepared. And this is how your family could be prepared too.
To be prepared for a thunderstorm you should make sure you are cautious about all electronics. For a thunderstorm at night if your bedroom is by a tree you shouldn't sleep there that night because you could get hurt if the lightning hits the tree and it collapses into your room. And you could be seriously hurt. You should also not go outside with metal because it detects lightning. But it's much safer, if you don't go outside at all. And that is how to be prepared for a thunderstorm. In the next paragraph I will tell you how to be prepared for high winds.
To be prepared for high winds you need to stay alert of anything that could possibly be knocked over, for example, a tree, power line, flag pole, etc.. Also be prepared for power outages which I will talk about next.
To be prepared for power outages you should have a flashlight ready and prepared. Candles would do also. If you have enough money you could leave your house until the power goes back on and go to a hotel. If you can not afford a hotel you should have jugs of water prepared and food that you can eat. And that is how to be prepared for a power outage. In the next paragraph I will tell you how to be prepared for a tornado.
To be prepared for a tornado. You should have a specific place to go and be safe, like a basement or a cellar. In your basement or cellar you should have water, extra clothes, nonperishable items, a radio and a corner with no windows. And that is how to be prepared for a tornado.
My family has been very prepared for these incidents. But it's not only adults that can make a difference in safety, kids can too. They can do it by reminding their parents to get aware. Like if you're at the store remind them to get nonperishable items, flashlights, and candles for tornadoes. And remind your mom and dad to be prepared.
And if you read this I'm glad you did. Because I have now gave you all these examples to be prepared.
(back to the top)Emergency Preparedness
by Christina Krawec
Thunder crashes in the stormy evening sky and the lightning blinds anyone who dares to look outside. The pouring rain drenches everything in sight. Over the crackling radio, I hear the weather forecaster warning my family of strong winds and tornadoes. We all agree it is high time to take refuge in the basement. We turn off all of the lights and computers first. Then, grabbing the large flashlight already handy in the garage, we all scuttle into the basement. With blankets wrapped tightly about us, we silently listen to the fuzzy radio signals, hardly audible over the crash of the storm. After waiting what seems like an eternity, we finally hear the all clear. With our cell phones ready at hand, we creep upstairs. The tornado has fortunately passed us by with minimal damage—just some fallen branches.
Even if the storm had caused more harm, I know my family would be safe, because we are always prepared for a disaster. We keep a handheld radio with working batteries handy. Flashlights are a must, and we keep ours in the garage. Also, having an emergency 72-hour kit prepared is always helpful. This should include first-aid supplies, water bottles, changes of clothing, and extra food. Each family member should know the basics of first aid. In case of a fire, an escape route should be planned. The smoke alarms should be ready to do their job 24/7 (and while we're on the subject, so should the carbon monoxide detectors).
One of the most important parts of being prepared, in my opinion, is remembering what to do. For example, you have to keep in mind to turn off the lights and computers because if a power surge occurs, then it could damage the electronic equipment. The safest place to hide is in the basement because it is underground and the windows are small. However, some houses don't have basements, so it's best then to shelter in an interior bathroom or closet.
Many people do not have a family safety plan. In order to make the citizens of Farmington and Farmington Hills feel safer in their homes, I think it is necessary to spread the word on emergency preparedness. To do this, I could get together with some kids and hand out fliers in neighborhoods. This would raise people's awareness of the importance of disaster plans.
I could also get together with some of the other teens at my school and talk about how we can stay safe during a crisis. We could agree on creating a plan with our families and gathering more knowledge on emergency preparedness. This would help families understand how much a disaster could really affect us.
All in all, severe weather is a serious issue. People should always be prepared for the unexpected, whether that means a ten percent chance of rain or a raging tornado ripping up everything in its path. I hope that in the future, the citizens of Oakland County will be ready for a crisis and be ready if something dangerous is upon us.
(back to the top)Be Smart, Be Ready, Be Prepared
by Mallory Peters
"Yeah, that will never happen to my family!" What are your thoughts at the mention of the words "fire," or "tornado"? Have you ever thought what you'd do if one actually happened? Does your family have an emergency preparedness plan? What if there was a long power outage? There are more risks than you'd think of at first. You can help secure the safety of your family by alerting them of these helpful tips that my family does.
When blackouts happen for long periods of time, there are a few necessary steps to take. When the mass power outage happened in 2004, the power was out for a couple of days. My family was prepared. We had cases of water on hand, flashlights with extra batteries, and thankfully a generator. Remember not to drink the water from your sink, because there is a possibility of contamination. We used the generator to keep the refrigerator running so that the food inside wouldn't spoil. We had plenty of non-perishable food that did not require cooking. We did have a grill with a full tank of propane that could have been used, had we needed to cook something. If the blackout is in the winter, check that you have plenty of blankets to keep warm and wood for the fireplace (but make sure your fire is safely contained and monitored). Cell phones are helpful to keep updates on when the power will come back on, and in case of emergencies.
A tornado is a very serious matter, and though you cannot really be completely prepared, you should have a safety plan. To know if there is a tornado coming, check the local weather forecast to see if there is a tornado warning. In the event of a tornado, you should immediately go to the place in your house with the least amount of windows, namely a basement if you have one. If you don't have a basement, check with a neighbor to see if it's okay to go to their house. Make sure to turn off all electrical appliances so that an electrical fire does not occur if a tornado strikes. Lastly, stay low and do not leave your safe area until you're sure it's all clear.
Finally, knowing how to prepare for a fire is a must. First of all, make sure you have working smoke detectors with fresh batteries. Second of all, make sure everybody knows how to call 9-1-1 emergency. Everybody also must know that getting out of the house is a first priority, and worrying about the material things is for later. Also, once you're out of the house, be sure there is a family meeting place established. Make sure that you know a basic floor plan of your house so you know where it would be possible to exit during a fire. If your clothes catch fire, quickly STOP, DROP, and ROLL to smother the flames. Though there is no way to know if a fire is going to occur, the best thing you can do is to know what to do if one happens.
So, what can kids do to help their family be prepared? Sit down with your family and have an emergency preparedness meeting. Give examples on how your family can be prepared in the event of a disaster. Write it out, and make copies for everybody. You could make a big difference for yourself and your family, so get out there and get prepared!
(back to the top)Preparing For Emergencies
by Shreya Raman
During the last two days there has been severe spring weather. This has caused thunderstorms, power outs, and even chances of tornadoes. People all over the nation have no idea how to prepare for this situation. The less you prepare for these conditions the less safe you are. Of course the less you buy stuff for your safety the more money you save. In many cases, these savings amount to more than the cost of emergency supplies.
Every family should have an emergency kit and supplies in case of an emergency. You should have a first aid kit with all the items you need (for cuts, scrapes, bruises, etc.), water and food, an extra change of clothes including a long sleeve shirt and a pair of jeans, games and books, mess kits (paper plates, cups, napkins, forks), flashlight, a battery powered radio, plastic sheeting and duct tape, and personal hygiene items. These are only a few of the supplies you need. The list keeps on going. All of these supplies will work for any emergencies, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, etc.
My school has fire and tornado drills about 2 or 3 times a month depending on the weather. We had a ton in April due to the mild climate. In case of a sudden emergency my family meets at the end of my street. We all know where the supplies are kept and know the fire procedures such as stop, drop, and roll and if there is a fire wrap a wet cloth around you and roll. We also check our fire detector a few times a month just in case. There is a fire hydrant in our shoe closet, and we check that too.
I think there should be a show where kids can learn about how to prepare for emergencies and what to do if you're in one. This show could also teach them all the supplies and tools they need.
Everyone should know about how to be prepared for an emergency so that they can be safe. I hope when you read/heard my essay you got the impression about how important safety is and that you HAVE to be prepared for an emergency.
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