Hundreds of elementary school students in Western Washington got firsthand training today on what to do when a disaster strikes.
It’s all part of the Hero Academy and Passport to Preparedness programs hosted by the American Red Cross and Pemco Insurance.
Volunteers were at Olivia Park Elementary in Everett and Hazel Valley Elementary in Burien.
Students from third and fifth grade took part and they were all given teddy bears to learn to protect.
The bears stand in for the people they love.
According to officials with the American Red Cross, there’s a reason this program targets elementary age students.
“(At) this age, they are really able to process the information, retain the information and go home and share it with their families,” said Kriss Salgado, with the American Red Cross.
According to the latest poll by Pemco, 77 percent of people in the Pacific Northwest believe the next "big one" is imminent.
But only about half said they are even somewhat prepared in case of a major earthquake, and nearly 40 percent said they are not prepared at all.
Hazel Valley principal Casey Jeannot said she’s excited to see community members step up to work with her students.
“Even though, in an emergency, this may all go out the door, you at least have the knowledge that this is what I am supposed to do and prepare,” said Jeannot.
A similar session is now planned for a school in Spokane later this year.
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