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Spring/Summer Emergency Preparedness Event: equipping people with life-saving skills

Spring/Summer Emergency Preparedness Event: equipping people with life-saving skills
Attendees of the recent Spring/Summer Emergency Preparedness Event. Courtesy photo

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service hosted a Spring/Summer Emergency Preparedness Event on March 22 at the Waxahachie Police Department.

The effort brought in experts from the local area and across the state to provide information and hands-on demonstrations to help community members prepare for emergencies and natural disasters.

“The event emphasized the importance of proactive emergency preparedness, equipping attendees with practical skills and resources to enhance their safety and resilience during unpredictable situations,” a spokesman said.

Attendees gained knowledge from presentations and demonstrations covering a wide range of topics, including:

• Setting up a medical ID on smartphones and connecting to emergency services.

• Understanding when to make a 911 emergency call following a weather disaster.

• A cooking demonstration showcasing how to prepare a nutritious meal without using heat.

• Insights into the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Disaster Assessment and Recovery program and its role in disaster response.

• Demonstration of how to pack a go-bag with essential supplies.

• Instructions on registering for the city of Waxahachie and Ellis County emergency alert systems.

• Guidance on performing a primary assessment of home damage following severe weather.

Participants left the event with supplies to start building their own emergency preparedness bags, including N-95 masks, whistles, spray bottles for sanitizing, and other items and resources provided by the presenters.

The event featured presentations from Danae Hicks from the Ellis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Megan Womack of Waxahachie Emergency Management, Michaela Sandefer from the Ellis County Office of Emergency Management, Will Stevens of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Disaster Assessment and Recovery Unit, and Amber Barber from the Ellis County Sheriff's Office, a 911 educator.

For more information about upcoming emergency preparedness workshops and events, or to be added to the email list, contact the Ellis County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service at 972-825-5175 or reach out to Danae Hicks at danae.hicks@ag.tamu.edu.

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