Harris County Students Succeed in First Storm Simulation
Harris County Constable Herb Martinez and Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management’s Lindsey Drouet collaborate with Hamilton Middle School (CFISD) Weather Rangers during Hurricane Nicole simulation. (Harris County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management)
More than 40 eighth grade students from Cy-Fair ISDs Hamilton Middle School participated in a hurricane simulation today at the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
The Hurricane Nicole Storm Simulation tested the students’ ability to handle evacuations, vehicle accidents, damaged homes, fires, flooded neighborhoods, rescues of people, and escaped zoo animals. The students concluded the simulation by hosting a press conference about Hurricane Nicole.
“This is one of the very best exercises we’ve ever had,” said Founding Director of StormZone, Bay Proby.
The Harris County EOC was selected for the simulation due to the long history of flood events and hurricanes in the area. Students were placed in groups corresponding to real-life emergency management roles. HCOHSEM staff were on hand to help guide students through the complexities of responding to multiple incidents during a hurricane.
“The goal of the event is to give students access to the information that these career paths exist and are necessary for response before, during and after a disaster,” said Andrea Galván, Executive Assistant to the CEO for AshBritt, who sponsored the event.
StormZone is a multidisciplinary science and social studies organization dedicated to exposing children everywhere to the effects of severe weather including hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires and more.
“We are happy to have hosted the Weather Rangers today,” said Harris County Emergency Management Coordinator Mark Sloan. “You are never too young to learn the importance of preparedness, especially in a community like ours where we experience weather and man-made events frequently,” said Sloan.
To find out more about StormZone and the Weather Rangers program, visit www.stormzone.us