Disaster Preparedness Challenge - 2022

NEW: 2023 Nebraska Extension H.O.P.E. Challenge.

2022 Disaster Preparedness Challenge Resources

Top scoring submissions were announced at the Nebraska Extension Fall Conference - November 2022!

Read more and view photos

Archive: Weekly email updates from 2022

  • Week 9 - Monday, September 19: Are You Ready to Submit a Kit?"
  • Week 8 - Tuesday, September 13: Preparing for Wildfires & Challenge Updates
  • Week 7 - Tuesday, September 6: Small Actions Make a Big Difference
  • Week 6 - Monday, August 29: The Challenge
  • Week 5 - Monday, August 22: Build Your Kit
  • Week 4 - Monday, August 15: Make a Plan
  • Week 3 - Monday, August 8: Know Your Risks
  • Week 2 - Monday, August 1: Low Cost and No Cost Resource Ideas
  • Week 1 - Monday, July 25: The Challenge Begins!
  • Challenge Resources (Guidelines - Submission, Flier, Endorsement Letter)
October 7 Email Update: Disaster Prepareness Challenge and Submissions

Here is the list of offices that submitted their kits and supplemental resources to the 2022 Nebraska Extension Disaster Preparedness Challenge - Great work everyone!:

  • Butler County Extension
  • Cherry County Extension
  • Clay County Extension
  • Fillmore County Extension
  • Hall County Extension
  • Extension in Holt and Boyd Counties
  • Lancaster County Extension
  • Nebraska Extension Dean's Office
  • Platte County Extension

Note: If your office/unit uploaded or emailed a challenge submission and you don't see your office listed above, please email Josh at nema.preparednesschallenge@nebraska.gov​

Going forward: The Disaster Preparedness Challenge submissions will be evaluated by guest judges this month. We plan to have the challenge results by the end of October so we can announce the submissions with the top scores by mid-November.

Challenge updates and preparedness resources are available below...see the weekly updates

Please keep working on your office/unit preparedness efforts. A well-supplied kit can be used when your team must shelter-in-place (tornado), evacuate quickly (fire), or help if you are stranded in a vehicle (mechanical/weather). Don't forget to also create emergency kits for your home and personal vehicles. This website has many resources to help you create the kit(s) you need.

Week 9 - Monday, September 19: Are You Ready to Submit a Kit?"

Wow time is flying by! There are less than 12 days left for the Disaster Preparedness Challenge.

Thanks to everyone who has already submitted their itemized list and pictures of their preparedness kits.

There's a new submission link to upload your challenge entry - this link accommodates larger files (including video). If you haven’t done so already, submit your challenge entry (pictures or video give you bonus points!) by uploading your files.

Are you stuck and still looking for ideas for a functional kit that you and your office can use in a disaster or emergency? Here are 12 things to consider when putting together your preparedness kit – remember, these can be kits for the office, office vehicles, or if you have a satellite office:

  1. Inclusion of the basic essentials needed for a preparedness kit.
  2. Inclusion of items specific to your situation. Does anyone in your office have special needs or food requirements? If your kit is going in a vehicle, is it appropriate for the time of year?
  3. Appropriate amount of each item (amounts will be different for kits in vehicles and for the number of staff for an office kit)
  4. Items are separated by category (organize your kits so everything is easy to find and then, replace if used).
  5. Items are labeled.
  6. Each item is readily accessible.
  7. All items are stored in one kit.
  8. Kit is stored in a location that is easy to access
  9. Kit is stored in a well-known location that everybody knows about. Practice finding and using the kit!
  10. Get an endorsement from a local official. (This can be a local emergency manager, fire chief, county board member, etc.)
  11. Take photos of the kit, its contents and its location
  12. Give a video tour of the contents of your kit

Completion of the last three (10, 11 and 12) gets you bonus points in the challenge. You’ll also get bonus points if anyone in your office has current training in safety (first aid, CPR, AED), have taken FEMA courses, is a member of the Nebraska EDEN team, a member of an organization like CERT or Medical Reserve Corp, or is a first responder (like a volunteer fire fighter or member of Medical Reserve Corps). Make a list of these items and submit them with your kit.

Have a fantastic day and happy preparedness kit making! Remember September 30 is the deadline! Prizes announced sometime in October!

For more guidelines, earning extra credit and submitting your challenge entry, visit Challenge Submission. The weekly email updates, preparedness resources, and ideas for your kits can be found in the weekly updates below.

Week 8 - Tuesday, September 13: Preparing for Wildfires & Challenge Updates

Wildfire Preparedness Infographic:  All Nebraskans can do their part to prevent and be prepared for wildfires. Wildfires are dangerous and can spread quickly, threatening life, property, and livelihoods. If a wildfire threatens, you may have little time to escape to safety. Know where you will go, how you will get there, and where you will stay. Have different escape routes from your home and community. Practice these routes so everyone in your household is familiar with them. Be sure to understand how your community will respond to a wildfire.

Resources:

This week's Challenge Update: There are less than 20 days left to submit your itemized list of the contents of your office’s disaster preparedness kit. This kits will be evaluated and scored by a panel of judges and experts. Winners will be announced following the submission deadline of September 30 (TBD). This is a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the roles Extension has played during and after emergencies of recent years, as well as a chance to foster new relationships while providing information, resources, and a model of disaster preparedness for the community at large.

For more guidelines, earning extra credit and submitting your challenge entry, visit Submission Guidelines

Week 7 - Tuesday, September 6: Small Actions Make a Big Difference

Low Cost and No Cost Resources Infographic: Disasters are costly but preparing for them doesn’t have to be. In fact, taking time to prepare now can help save you thousands of dollars and give you peace of mind when the next disaster or emergency occurs.

Small actions can make a big difference: 

  • Learn about the risks found in your area. Is your office located near a dealership that supplies anhydrous ammonia? Is your office or home near an airport or does a train travel near your location? What types of natural disaster events could affect your area?
  • If you are traveling, what are some of the risks you might expect along the way or at your destination?
  • Think about how your office or family will respond before, during, or after an emergency. What is your communication plan?
  • Create a preparedness plan and practice it. It can be as simple as reviewing a section of your office EAP at a staff meeting.
  • Get involved with emergency response in your community.
“Build a Kit” Challenge Tips – Scoring Extra Credit Points:
  • Be creative with your presentation and description of your kit.
  • Have your local emergency manager, county/city official, or first responder check your kit and sign it off as complete.
  • Share preparedness messages and resources on your office social media pages or in office newsletters.
  • List office/unit or department faculty and staff:
    • who hold current First Aid/CPR/AED certifications (not expired as of September 1, 2022).
    • who completed FEMA Independent Study or ICS Courses or have any other related training certificates like "Stop the Bleed".
    • serving on the Nebraska EDEN team.
    • serving as a first responder in their community (ie volunteer firefighter, EMT, CERT, MRC).
  • Describe a recent disaster and how your office responded.

For more ways to earn extra credit for your kit submission, click on Submission Guidelines

Week 6 - Monday, August 29: The Challenge

Low Cost and No Cost Resources Infographic: Build your emergency supply kit over time. Start with items you may already have in your office or home, like a flashlight, extra batteries, water and non-perishable food.

Kit Tips:

  • What type of emergency kit do you plan to work on for this challenge? Here are some ideas:
    • Office kit with enough supplies to shelter-in-place for at least 24 hours. Store supplies in a waterproof container or tote.
    • Go bag (bad-day bag), a grab and go backpack or portable bag that will go with you when you evacuate.
    • Vehicle kits with emergency supplies. The supplies in these kits will change depending on the time of year.
  • Make sure everyone in the office knows where disaster kit(s) are kept.
  • Regularly review your kits and replace items that may have been used or are expired.
  • When practicing your Emergency Action Plan, add a scenario that includes your emergency kit (this is a good time to make sure your flashlights are in working order).

Resources:

Have fun, be creative and engage: Nebraska Extension Disaster Preparedness Challenge submissions can include short videos, artwork, photographs and you’ll need an itemized list of what is included in your kits. When the local emergency manager or first responder reviews and signs off on your kits, take a photo celebrating your community preparedness partnership.

The Challenge: As a way to recognize and celebrate September as National Preparedness Month, Nebraska Extension is partnering with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Nebraska’s emergency management–first responder community to launch the 2022 Nebraska Extension Disaster Preparedness Challenge. This is a friendly competition to see which office or unit is the most prepared for future disaster events.

The purpose of this Challenge is to not only highlight the work and collaborative efforts already happening through Extension offices across the state, but also build and enhance partnerships within and between communities, organizations, and stakeholders. It is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the roles Extension has played during and after emergencies of recent years, as well as a chance to foster new relationships while providing information, resources, and a model of disaster preparedness for the community at large. Extension offices, research units, and University departments are asked to submit an itemized list of the contents of their office’s disaster preparedness kit. The deadline for submissions is the end of business on September 30. The submissions will be evaluated and scored by a panel of judges and experts, with winners announced on a date TBD.

Week 5 - Monday, August 22: Build Your Kit

Building Your Emergency Kit Infographic: After an emergency, you may need to survive on your own for several days. Being prepared means having your own food, water, and other supplies to last for several days. A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items your office or household may need in the event of an emergency. Once you put together the basic items of an emergency kit, consider what unique needs of your office. When you create a emergency kit for home or travel, also consider the needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or seniors. Put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two easy-to-carry containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag. Make sure everyone in your office knows where the emergency kit is stored.

Week 4 - Monday, August 15: Make a Plan

Make a Plan Infographic: Disasters can happen anywhere at any time. It is important to have a plan when disaster strikes. Ensure everyone in your office knows what to do in case of an emergency. Identify responsibilities for each member of your office and plan to work together as a team.

Plan what to do if you must evacuate your building, decide where you would go and what route you would take to get there. Identify a safe location to meet and be sure to check in with one another. In the event of imminent danger, it is important to find a safe place and stay there. 

Don't forget to also make a plan with your family! Involve the entire family in creating your plan and as you practice. Take into consideration special circumstance, needs, pets and livestock. 

Visit Ready.Gov for free resources that you can use while working on your Disaster Preparedness Challenge. Here are some helpful resources for this week's preparedness message:

Week 3 - Monday, August 8: What Are Your Threats and Hazards? Know Your Risks!

Identify Your Risks Infographic: The probability that a particular hazard will affect your area is hard to determine. For this reason, it is important to take into account many threats and dangers and the likelihood that they will occur. When identifying potential hazards in your area, there are numerous risks to consider. Depending on the time, magnitude and location of the hazard, there are many possible scenarios for each hazard. When identifying your risks, look for vulnerabilities that would make an asset more susceptible to damage. Vulnerabilities can include deficiencies in construction, process systems, security, protection systems and loss prevention programs.

Visit Ready.Gov for free resources that you can use while working on your Disaster Preparedness Challenge. Here are some helpful resources for this week's preparedness message:

Week 2 - Monday, August 1: Low Cost and No Cost Resource Ideas

Low Cost and No Cost Resources Infographic: Disasters don’t wait for a convenient time; preparing for them shouldn’t wait, either! Some may think that preparing for a disaster can be costly. While planning and preparedness efforts can result in a high cost, many no-cost, low-cost options are available. Visit Ready.Gov for free resources that you can use while working on your Disaster Preparedness Challenge:

This week, NEMA sent an email to all emergency managers and the first responder community to let them know about the Nebraska Extension Disaster Preparedness Challenge. Our community partners now know you may be coming to them to sign off on your Disaster Preparedness Kit.

Week 1 - Monday, July 25: The Challenge Begins!

As a way to recognize and celebrate September as National Preparedness Month, we are have partnered with Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Nebraska's emergency management first responder community to launch the 2022 Nebraska Extension Disaster Preparedness Challenge! This is a friendly-competition developed especially for Nebraska Extension offices and units. 

Purpose:

  • Highlight the work and collaborative efforts your office is already doing.
  • Build and enhance partnerships in your community.
  • Celebrate the roles Extension has played during and after emergencies of recent years.

Challenge Submissions: Extension offices, research units, and UNL departments are asked to submit an itemized list of the contents of their office's disaster preparedness kit.

  • Deadline: Close of business September 30 (updated!!)
  • On your challenge submission, don't forget to include "Preparedness Challenge Submission - (County, Office, Unit or Department Name), Contact person from your office (Name, Phone Number, Email), Number of staff in your office/unit and how many people helped with the submission. Add anything that will get your bonus points (see above)...Then, upload your documents, media files using the shared link.
  • Submission email for questions: nema.preparednesschallenge@nebraska.gov
    • In the email subject line, write: "Preparedness Challenge Submission - (County, Office, Unit or Department Name)

Scoring: The kits and any additional bonus items will be evaluated and scored by a panel of judges and experts.

  • Kits will be judged on four (4) primary categories: Efficiency and Portability; Completeness; Sustainability; Creativity.
  • Optional bonus points are available for photos and videos of the kit, its contents, endorsement letters from local officials, and much more. Tip: Use your submission photos and/or video to promote preparedness on your social media pages. 
Challenge Resources:

Winners: Winners will be announced at an Extension Huddle - watch for the date/time