| Mission Statement |
| The mission of Monroe County is to provide outstanding public service responsive to the needs of our citizens, our unique community, and our environment. |
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Eighth Graders Prepare for "Hurricane Sharky"
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October 11, 2002
Sugarloaf Key Middle School students conducted a mock government hurricane preparedness simulation at the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) this week. The twenty-five 8th grade science students from Jean Timmins and David Richardson's classes prepared for and recovered from fictitious "Hurricane Sharky."
This is the second year Monroe County has participated in this exercise as part of Project SafeSide, a national disaster preparedness program created by the Weather Channel and American Red Cross and sponsored locally by AT&T Broadband. |
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left -right; Brooks, Avery, Heather , Lauren, Alina, Arielle role play as the Emergency Operations Center, preparing for "Hurricane Sharky" |
Project SafeSide teaches students about severe weather phenomena such as hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, fires and extreme heat and helps them understand how to prepare for hurricanes. After learning about severe weather phenomena, the eighth graders conducted a mock government simulation in their classrooms.
They form their own county government by electing a mayor, emergency manager, fire and police chief, and appointing other students to carry out specific emergency management functions critical to preparation and recovery.
Students re-enacted their classroom experience in the Monroe County EOC. Emergency Management Planner, Jeff Manning, lead the exercise as the students made decisions about posting advisories, sending press releases and holding press conferences, ordering evacuations, dealing with electricity outages, and procedures for bringing people back to the Keys. |
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left to right; Monroe Co. Emergency Management Planner, Jeff Manning, leads Sugarloaf eighth graders in Project SafeSide exercise Photos By Jonathan Weinshank |
The students received hands on experience of the processes involved with the operation of the EOC during a severe weather phenomenon. Monroe County Emergency Management is looking forward to Project SafeSide becoming an annual event in the Keys.
For further information contact Emergency Management at 305-289-6325.
source: Monroe County, communications manager,(305) 292-4497
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