The National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute partnered with the group Save the Children to work with people in Washington County on disaster preparedness, especially when it comes to children.

The event brought together schools, childcare and healthcare professionals and emergency management to train and teach each other. Washington County is one of just two counties in the United States picked for the three year pilot program funded by GSK.

“As we do this across other communities, it leads to national preparedness, but it starts on the ground, it starts in the communities and it starts with those who care for our children when they aren’t with us every day,” said Jeff Schlegelmilch Deputy Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness.

Save the Children’s latest disaster report card shows for every $10 spent in federal emergency preparedness grants, less than one cent is spent on safety factors that are specifically for children.

For more information on the Resilient Children/ Resilient Communities Initiative, click here.