Arkansas PBS > Engage > Pressroom > AETN addresses child-focused disaster preparedness in next 'Arkansans Ask' May 18
Posted 16 May 2017
'Arkansans Ask: Children & Disasters' will air on the Arkansas Educational Television Network Thursday, May 18, at 7 p.m. The program will also be streamed live at aetn.org/arask.
Disasters can strike anywhere at any time, and during the day approximately 70 million children in the United States are separated from their families. This episode will explore child-focused disaster preparedness, community resilience and steps any household can take to become better prepared for all emergencies. It will also provide insight, guidance and resources to help protect children before, during and after disasters, while offering a platform for state, local and national leaders to answer viewer questions.
Panelists include: Jeff Schlegelmilch, deputy director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Earth Institute, Columbia University; Debbie Malone, program coordinator, Childcare Aware NWA; Erin Lauer, community preparedness manager, Save the Children; John Luther, director of emergency management, Washington County Department of Emergency Management; and Glenda Deffebaugh, Youth and Family Director, Boys & Girls Club of Fayetteville. Steve Barnes will host.
Viewers may submit questions and comments during the live broadcast at 800-662-2386, paffairs@aetn.org or on Twitter with #ARAsk.
'Arkansans Ask: Children & Disasters' panelists represent the Resilient Children Resilient Communities Coalition, a special project in Washington County that partners with the Resilient Children/Resilient Communities Initiative (RCRC) to directly address the unique preparedness, response and recovery needs of children in disaster situations.
The Resilient Children Resilient Communities Coalition includes stakeholders such as emergency management and law enforcement, leaders and governing bodies of child-serving institutions including schools, daycare and afterschool programs, health officials and community-based organizations.
Led by Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness in partnership with Save the Children, the RCRC Initiative is funded by a grant from biopharmaceutical and healthcare company GSK.
Additional information on children and disasters is available at aetn.org/earlyeducation. Among the resources provided is the presentation 'Children in a Changing Climate: the Importance of Childcare Providers in Disasters.'
The Arkansas Educational Television Network is Arkansas's only statewide public media network, which enhances lives by providing lifelong learning opportunities for people from all walks of life. AETN delivers local, award-winning productions and classic, trusted PBS programs aimed at sharing Arkansas and the world with viewers through the distinct channels AETN PBS, AETN Create, AETN PBS KIDS, AETN World and AETN AIRS on SAP. AETN depends on the generosity of Arkansans and the State of Arkansas to continue offering quality programming. Additional information is available at aetn.org. AETN is broadcast on KETS (Little Rock), KEMV (Mountain View), KETG (Arkadelphia), KAFT (Fayetteville), KTEJ (Jonesboro) and KETZ (El Dorado).