NORFOLK — The city is starting its first ever Teen Local Emergency Planning Committee program and they are looking for high schoolers who will be juniors and seniors in the 2019-2020 school year.
The City of Norfolk has a Local Emergency Planning Committee comprised of public safety and private sector partners that meets regularly and develops planning, training, and exercise opportunities and now they’re giving a chance for teens to get more involved, according to a news release from the city.
Students who participate in the program will meet monthly and will be required to develop or participate in four community outreach events as a group each year, as well as complete four hours of continuous education annually, said Lori Crouch, the city’s spokeswoman.
The teens will work closely with a staff adviser where they’ll be encouraged to develop innovative ways to bring preparedness information and education to their peers, families and communities, Crouch said.
Participants will have independence in selecting and developing activities to work on while in the program.
The current schedule kicks off in May, meeting every two weeks initially as the group gets to know each other, then reducing meetings to monthly. That may change based on the needs and desires of the group, according to to the news release.
The goal is for the Teen LEPC to participate in an existing opportunity or develop a new service opportunity each quarter, officials said.
Those four hours of continuous learning time will be fulfilled on their own and can be completed by taking online training, participating in the adult LEPC meetings, participating in other training/exercise opportunities, etc.
Interested high school juniors and seniors (2019-2020 school year) are encouraged to apply.
The application requires that both the student and a faculty member complete individual sections, Crouch said.
Faculty can include teachers, CROs, clergy, or leadership from other nonprofit organizations the student participates in or with.
The deadline to return the application is April 1.
Applications are now being accepted. Download the application materials: Youth Local Emergency Planning Committee Application.
