Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest Honorees Given Recognition

Every year in March Nebraska recognizes Severe Weather Awareness Week. It is a time to reflect on our preparedness plans for such an event, to practice our plans, and make sure that we are prepared for the upcoming severe weather season. During this week Johnson and Pawnee Counties Emergency Management Agency spent time visiting some of the local schools and presenting to the elementary students on severe weather awareness and safety. 
Each year the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, along with Nebraska National Guard, National Weather Service, and Nebraska Association of Emergency Management, sponsor a Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest. The contest was was open to all third grade students. Third-graders were encouraged to submit a poster giving tips on being prepared for severe weather in Nebraska to their local emergency management office for a chance to be entered into the statewide contest. Each county then chose the top three posters from those submitted to be judged as part of the statewide contest.
This year almost 20 Johnson County third grade students submitted posters to our office. The top three posters, as judged by a panel of three public officials to represent Johnson County, were created by Monroe Jones (Sterling Public School), Emry Francis (Johnson County Central Public School), and Carsyn Gregory (Johnson County Central Public School). These students were recognized and awarded a small emergency supply starter kit in recognition of being chosen as one of the top three posters to represent our counties.
This year, for the first time in Johnson County history of participating in this contest, a local poster, submitted by Monroe Jones, was selected for an Honorable Mention in the state contest and will be included in the 2027 Severe Weather Awareness Calendar. A video of all of this year’s submissions is available on Johnson and Pawnee Counties Emergency Management Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/JPCEMA.