Disaster Recovery and Response
Nebraska 4-H families have been working tirelessly to respond to and recover from a series of severe storm events in recent years. In particular, the multiple storms that struck Nebraska in 2024 left a lasting impact on communities across the state. In response, the Nebraska Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) team has created an opportunity for youth to share how they navigated disaster recovery or helped their neighbors and community.
These classes will be a pilot project for next year, as we are hoping to expand the state fair “Safety” department to include more opportunities for youth.
Classes in this division are ineligible for State Fair
Division 445
Class E445900 Disaster Recovery/Response Poster (SF269) – Poster should promote a recovery message or response to a weather-related disaster. Example: flooding/tornado/fire/storm damage. Documentation should include evidence of your family’s or your community’s preparedness, response or recovery for the disaster topic. Posters must be constructed of poster board at least 11 inches x 14 inches but not larger than 22 inches x 28 inches.
Class E445901 Disaster Recovery/Response Scrapbook (SF270) - The scrapbook must contain 10 news articles from print and/or internet sources about any type of weather-related disasters to residential or commercial properties or landscapes. Mount each clipping on a separate page accompanied by a description of events leading to the incident and any measures that might have been taken to prepare, recover or respond to the weather-related disaster. The scrapbook should be bound in a standard size hardcover binder or notebook for 8.5 inches x 11 inches size paper. Correct sentence structure, readability and thorough explanations are an important part of judging.
Class E445902 72-hour Disaster Kit (Emergency Preparedness) (SF111) - Disaster kits must contain the materials to prepare a person or family for emergency conditions caused by a natural or man-made incident. Selection of materials is left to the exhibitor. Family or group kits must have enough material or items for each person. A description of the kit's purpose, the number of people supported, and a list of contents is required. 4-H members are encouraged to test their kit by challenging their family to try to survive using only the included materials for the designated time. If tested, share that experience in kit documentation. Please include an explanation of drinking water needs for your disaster kit. Do not bring actual water to the fair in the kit.
Class E445903 Disaster Response/Training Experiences (SF 190) - The exhibit should share a learning experience the youth had related to safety in a weather-related disaster. Examples could be participating in a first aid or first responder training, a farm safety day camp, babysitting workshop or similar events; scientific experiment related to safety related to a weather-related disaster; or the youth’s response to an emergency situation in that disaster event. The exhibit should include a detailed description of the experience, the 4-H member’s role, some evidence of the member’s leadership in the situation and a summary of the learning that took place. Exhibits may be presented in a poster with supplemental documentation, a notebook including up to ten pages of narrative and pictures, or a multimedia presentation lasting up to five minutes.
Class E445904 Careers in Emergency Management (SF191) - The exhibit should identify a specific career area in the emergency management field and include education and certification requirements for available positions, salary information, demand for the field and a summary of the 4-H member’s interest in the field. Examples of careers include firefighters, paramedics, emergency management personnel, military assignments, law enforcement officers, emergency room medical personnel, fire investigators and more. It is recommended 4-H members interview a professional in the field in their research. Additional research sources might include books, articles, career web sites, job-related government web sites or interviews with career placement or guidance counselors. Exhibits may be presented in a poster with supplemental documentation, a notebook including up to ten pages of narrative and pictures, or a multimedia presentation lasting up to five minutes.
Class E445905 Care Package Display (SF182) - This exhibit is a display about the PROCESS of creating and giving a care package, not the actual care package. You may use a poster, Power Point or another multi-media program to tell about the PROCESS of developing and giving a care package to a family. PowerPoint should be saved to a USB/thumb drive.
You need to answer the following questions in your exhibit:
- How did you select the organization?
- What items did you include in your care package?
- Why did you select those items?
- How did it feel to present your care pack to the family?
- What did you learn from this experience?
- Other information that you feel is important about the care package or family.
Some examples of care packages are: Backpack for school supplies, litter pan for animal shelter items, replacement of toys lost in a disaster for the children, etc.
Class E445906 Challenging Photo Exhibit: Telling A Story Display – Exhibit will include three photos which tell a story without words. Photos may show something being created, destroyed, consumed, moving, or growing. Photos should capture the beginning, middle, and end of a single story, project, or event. Topic could also be a weather-related event, tornado, flooding or other. Display will consist of three 4x6 photos mounted on a single horizontal 11x14 black or white poster or mat board. Each photo in the display must be numbered using a pencil. Numbers should be readable but not distracting from the overall display. No titles, captions, or stick-on numbers are allowed. Photos may be mounted vertically or horizontally. Data tags are required for each photo in the display. Current data tags and a help sheet are available at: https://go.unl.edu/ne4h-photography (Activity 14)
Class E445907 Produce a Computer Slideshow Presentation – Using presentation software a 4-H Exhibitor designs a multimedia computer presentation on one topic related to youth. Possible topic – Disaster Preparedness, response or recovery; family or community response to a weather-related event. An 8.5 inch x 11 inch three ring notebook with a printout of all the slides should be submitted. Slideshow should include a minimum of 10 slides and not more than 25. Incorporate appropriate slide layouts, graphics, animations, and audio (music or voice and transition sounds do not count). Each slide should include notes for a presentation. Videos can be uploaded to a video streaming application and exhibitors MUST provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or links on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.
Class E445908 Produce an Audio/Video Computer Presentation – Using presentation software a 4-H exhibitor designs a multimedia computer presentation on one topic related to youth, including audio and/or video elements. Possible topic – Disaster Preparedness, response or recovery; family or community response to a weather-related event. A notebook with a printout of all the slides should be submitted. The presentation should be at least two minutes in length and no more than five minutes in length, appropriate graphics, sound and either a video clip, animation, or voice over and/or original video clip. Videos can be uploaded to a video streaming application and exhibitors MUST provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or links on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.
Class E445909 Virtual Platform Presentation – Youth design a fully automated educational presentation using any multimedia platform such as Tik Tok, YouTube, Canva, Canvas, etc.. Possible topic – Disaster Preparedness , response or recovery; family or community response to a weather-related event. Submissions may include a notebook, poster, etc., explaining the process, experience, and/or presentation. Videos can be uploaded to a video streaming application and exhibitors MUST provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or links on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.
Class E445910 Create a Website/Blog or App – Design a simple website, blog, or app for providing information about a topic related to youth. Possible topic – Disaster Preparedness, response or recovery; family or community response to a weather-related event. Include an explanation of why the entry was created. Any current website, blog, or app development platform is accepted such as Google Sites, iBuildApp, Wix, etc. Videos can be uploaded to a video streaming application and exhibitors MUST provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes or links on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.