FEMA is looking for young leaders to be part of its Youth Preparedness Council. Members of the council work on projects that help increase preparedness in their communities. They share their ideas, experiences, and solutions with FEMA leadership and participate in an annual summit.
Applications are due no later than midnight on March 6 and can be completed here.
Students in grades eight through 11 can apply if the meet one of the following criteria:
- Participated in community activities;
- Served in a leadership role;
- Lived through a disaster and shared his or her experiences; and/or
- Participated in a preparedness activity or training related to emergency preparedness.
YPC members are expected to complete national-level preparedness projects; to voice their ideas and questions on disaster preparedness with the leadership of FEMA and national youth preparedness organizations; and to participate in the YPC Summit. Each new YPC year begins in July with the YPC Summit. Members are expected to serve for 2 years on the YPC and must fulfill the responsibilities outlined below.
In the first year, each member works with other YPC members on a team project that promotes and increases preparedness on a national level. Project assignments take members’ specific interests and experience into account, as well as preparedness priorities that FEMA has identified. At the end of the first year, YPC members may apply to become a team lead in their second year.
In the second year, each member either continues working on a team project or is assigned a new project. All second-year YPC members serve as mentors to guide new, first-year members in their projects and activities. Finally, three selected team leads will lead a project team in their second year.
To read what members of the current council said about their experiences, click here. To learn more, visit the YPC website.
