North Fork Elementary School students confront hurricane Elisa during Broward EOC simulation

North Fork Elementary School students confront hurricane Elisa during Broward EOC simulation

North Fork Elementary School’s fifth grade science and civics students at Broward EOC.

North Fork Elementary School’s fifth grade science and civics students visited the Broward County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Sept. 24, 2014, and participated in a special hurricane preparedness exercise sponsored by StormZone, where they planned for and recovered from fictitious Hurricane Elisa.

StormZone is a nationwide, school-based multidisciplinary science and social studies education program that teaches students about severe natural hazards and how emergency management agency’s work with federal, state and local governments to manage such disasters.

“This is an emergency preparedness simulation program for the classroom that lets students form their own local government, learn the organizing principles used by emergency managers, make the decisions necessary to respond to a disaster in their community, and create and coordinate a disaster recovery plan,” said Bay Proby, StormZone founding director.

At the conclusion of the exercise, the student serving as the local mayor conducted a press conference in the EOC’s media center to inform student reporters on preparedness measures that were taken prior to the storm and recovery efforts after its passage.

In addition to supplementary science curriculum and the interactive exercise, Storm-Zone also teaches students a-bout safety and preparedness, and provides them with a disaster survival kit and family communication plan to share with their families.