This week in at the Lexington 2 Innovation Center in Cayce, the initial delegation of instructors within the South Carolina Youth Preparedness Initiative, MyPI South Carolina, completed a comprehensive certification and training workshop led by the MyPI National Coordination Team, and became the 31st state/territory-level program to train instructors under the national project umbrella. According to Mr. Steven Watterson, the MyPI South Carolina Program Manager, “MyPI is nationally recognized youth preparedness/youth leadership program that can provide a meaningful skillsets and valuable certification to our young citizens. Added Watterson, who serves as Education Associate for the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education and Student Transitional Services, overseeing programs in Architecture/Construction, Government and Public Administration, Law and Public Safety, Security, and Corrections, and Manufacturing, “Within the state of South Carolina, we have over 70 programs in Law and Public Safety, Security, and Corrections, including Fire Fighting programs. The MyPI program lends itself to enhance these programs and improve the overall outcome. Participation in MyPI will enable these young citizens to become not only certified in emergency preparedness but also to be better citizens in their communities, which is a win/win scenario for all involved.”

Over the next year, MyPI South Carolina will be offering this innovative and engaging youth preparedness program to teens who will assist families and communities in a variety of locations throughout South Carolina. This program, based on a national award-winning model developed and delivered in Mississippi through the Mississippi State University Extension Service enhances individual, family, and community preparedness for disasters, while at the same time, strengthening youth leadership, communication skills, teamwork, decision making, self-esteem, civic responsibility, and empowerment, along with family communication and cohesion. “The underlying missions of MyPI National are to reboot youth preparedness across our states and territories, to capitalize on the energy of our teens, and to set the new standard for how we engage our teens in sustainable preparedness endeavors as we move forward in the face of a variety of threats and hazards that we continue to see on seemingly a daily basis, regardless of geographic location.  From the large urban areas to the smaller rural towns and villages, emergencies and disasters do not discriminate. We must be aware of all possible risks and hazards and educate all citizens, including our youth. We have seen fantastic success for many years in Mississippi and have seen the same impact within our partners under the MyPI National umbrella. As our MyPI National team works with the initial cohort of MyPI South Carolina instructors, we will continue the process of fostering relationships and networks that will hopefully ensure the success of this program for years to come, which is yet another very achievable outcome and one that these great citizens, families, and communities deserve,” said Dr. C. Ryan Akers, MyPI National Project Director and MyPI Mississippi Program Coordinator.

Added Akers, “MyPI offers a tremendous, multi-faceted approach to youth preparedness with rich learning and leadership opportunities for teens and enhanced preparedness levels for families and communities. There is a definitive focus and energy necessary as we move
into the next phase of MyPI South Carolina, where the real work is carried out and the real impact is seen. On a personal and a professional level, I look forward to seeing these new instructors respond to the challenge and become the catalyst for positive change and impact across the state. It is clear from this week that the instructors have a strong passion for disaster education and preparedness, the development of their youth and safety of their families, and the livelihood of these communities, which is wonderful to see. These instructors have answered the call for their community repeatedly. I know they will continue to do the same through MyPI. Who knows when we will see the next emergency or major disaster? But we do know that it’s not a question of if…it’s a question of when. The program that our instructors will deliver and the work our teens will do provides an invaluable and perhaps life-saving service across their communities and for their people. We expect a positive impact for all involved and will continue to work with the instructors, the Program Manager, and community partners to ensure its success over the long-term.”

Lead Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Instructor for MyPI National, Dave Nichols, added, “Coming to South Carolina and seeing the outstanding facilities where we were able to train these new instructors and the resources available for instruction and outreach shows me that South Carolina takes training, education, and outreach seriously. With that said, I have high hopes to see MyPI flourish in the Palmetto State. I look forward to seeing the valuable and impactful work that is accomplished by these educators as well as the MyPI teens here in South Carolina.”

MyPI South Carolina is a component of the National Youth Preparedness Initiative, MyPI National, a partnership of 37 states and 3 US territories.  MyPI National’s Phase 1 pilot began in 2015 with 8 state-level programs. In September of 2017, MyPI National was awarded the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual and Community Preparedness national award for “Outstanding Achievement in Youth Preparedness.” Capitalizing on program success and momentum, MyPI National began a Phase 2 expansion of the program which enabled the inclusion of 10 new states. In 2018, in addition to winning FEMA’s national CERT award for “Preparing the Whole Community”, MyPI National received additional federal funding for a Phase 3 expansion that added 11 new state partners and 2 US territories. In 2019, the MyPI model was recognized with the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals’ Citizenry in 4-H Youth Development national award, its fourth national award in five years. Finally, in 2022, MyPI National obtained federal funding from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture for a fourth expansion of the program, of which South Carolina is a partner.

Regarding South Carolina’s program, Akers stated, “Our MyPI National Coordination team has travelled to all corners of the nation and across the world with this project. This week, we were excited to be back home in FEMA Region IV, where we are always looking to enhance our programmatic footprint and outreach in areas that have been hit hard by natural disasters. I can confidently say that the MyPI South Carolina instructors have displayed the kind of engagement and motivation that is characteristic of our most productive partners throughout MyPI National. We are looking for that definitive ‘zest’ and ‘passion’ to move these projects forward and that was the case here this week in Cayce. As a National training team, we hope to entertain the level of discussions that clearly project the
instructors are thinking long-term, not just the initial deliveries. That was certainly the case this week and I believe this program has quite a bright future. As the National Project Director, I can assert that this certainly makes administering this program and being a productive program incubator so much easier and more enjoyable when you have a cohesive unit that already has a vision for delivering MyPI. South Carolina teens, families, and communities are in for a treat on multiple levels due to the work of these great professionals, educators, and preparedness advocates. Much like their colleagues across the nation, the instructors in South Carolina truly exude a passion to change lives and to educate their communities, particularly their teens, through this program. It was indeed a pleasure for the MyPI National team to be able to spend some critical training time here this week. This initial cohort of instructors and Steven Watterson, the MyPI South Carolina Program Manager, will prove to be a great asset for our overall program goals and will guide the program with the motivation that we have come to expect, and that our program and stakeholders demand. We are excited about this great partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education’s Office of Career and Technical Education and Student Transitional Services, and we are already seeing a developing relationship between the program and the instructors. We look forward to seeing the program eventually become a state-wide outreach campaign. It was quite clear among the National team members that once MyPI South Carolina takes root, it will progress and flourish in large part because of their efforts and dedication.”

The MyPI model offers a flexible and comprehensive, three-component program. In Component A, teenagers will complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency-certified CERT training and corresponding modules focusing on Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety and Utility Control, Disaster Medical Operations, Light Search and Rescue, CERT Organization, Disaster Psychology, and Terrorism and CERT. In Component B, the Add-On Catalog features certification opportunities in CPR and AED usage, along with a technology track comprised of awareness programs focusing on HAM Radio, NOAA Weather Radio, Smoke Alarm Maintenance, and Smart Phone App and Social Media in Emergency Preparedness.  The Add-On Catalog also includes a disaster simulation, a school safety/active shooter awareness program, an extreme weather awareness program, a public health awareness and mitigation program, and a career track that focuses on public safety, fire service, and emergency management careers. The final element of the program, Component C, includes a comprehensive family and community service project entitled PREP+6 in which each participant helps develop emergency supply kits and emergency communication plans for their family AND 6 additional families or households. This component allows for significant enhancement in individual, family, and community preparedness and resilience. To graduate from the program, students must complete all components.

Steve Wilson, Fire/EMS Instructor at Westwood High School in Richland County, believes in the power of youth inclusion in emergency preparedness and in the benefits of the MyPI program specifically. According to Wilson, who also serves as a certified MyPI South Carolina instructor, “For the MyPI students, they will earn valuable knowledge and skillsets for life events. They can earn industry certifications and receive a CERT backpack with supplies. For the families involved, they will learn about and put together a functional
emergency supply kit and family communication plan to utilize in the event of an emergency or disaster. And this will benefit the communities where these students and families reside as they will be more prepared and will relieve some of the stress on the emergency response system. At Westwood High School, we plan to use this program with our firefighting/EMS students and our student emergency response team. MyPI will provide the training needed for students to make an impact on their families, friends, and the public. By completing the required service project, PREP+6, each student will impact 7 total families by helping them through the emergency supply kit development and communication plan development processes. Our hope is that members of some of these impacted families will further be encouraged to complete additional training and education and to become proactive volunteers within their community. MyPI is a one stop shop that enables students to receive the basic training needed in an emergency along with the backpack with basic supplies which will be helpful in rendering aid in emergency situations.”

Peter Wright, Career and Technical Education Department Chair and Lead Instructor for the Law Enforcement Academy at Cane Bay High located in Berkeley County, and a newly certified MyPI South Carolina Instructor, agrees with Wilson. According to Wright, “South Carolina residents are no strangers to experiencing natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes. In recent years, we have also experienced a number of mass casualty incidents. It is imperative that we prepare our youth, families, and community members to better deal and assist with these situations. MyPI South Carolina provides an incredible opportunity for teenagers to receive training to both prepare for these events and help those affected by these incidents. In addition to receiving multiple certifications, students also learn leadership skills that will benefit them in all aspects of life. The aspect of this program that attracts me the most is how our students give back to the community and, more importantly, prepare families to better deal with disasters and incidents by making them and their homes ‘Disaster Ready.’ I would encourage all students to participate in this program. MyPI South Carolina equips students with leadership qualities, communication skills, critical thinking skills, self-esteem, and most importantly, community involvement and a sense of civic responsibility. Instructors should consider applying to empower their students to be better citizens and not only prepare them in the case of a disaster, but to also introduce students to future career pathways in public safety.”

Aaron Cutler, a Law Enforcement Instructor for the Barnwell County Career Center with extensive experience as a Law Enforcement Officer and Training Officer within the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Department, was initially attracted to the comprehensive nature of the program and its ability to focus on youth who can engage in the community through the unique service project. According to Cutler, “Teens engaging in this program are going to be empowered to get involved and to make an impact within their communities. Their knowledge gained will increase confidence and confidence leads to strong leadership qualities. MyPI students will have the ability to earn two certifications. The program will give them the opportunity to serve their communities. I would strongly encourage students to seek out more information about MyPI and its benefits. Likewise, I would encourage adults to do the same and to explore future opportunities to become a MyPI South Carolina Instructor. Do it, just do it. The students and the communities will benefit tremendously. This is an amazing opportunity for community service officers in any agency to reach and
connect with your youth. Individuals and families that have been exposed to the free MyPI training will be more prepared to face emergencies. Sometimes, just knowing that you have the proper training can help with the psychological impact of emergencies and disasters. PREP+6, the service project, will have a unique impact. Each student that graduates and thus completes PREP+6 and MyPI will have worked with 7 total families, creating a positive domino effect on community preparedness.”

Chuck Black, Career and Technical Education Director and Firefighting Instructor in Marlboro County, agrees that MyPI is a fantastic opportunity for youth to become involved in their communities. According to Black, “The PREP+6 Service Project is one aspect of the program that really stands out. Outside of the leadership development outlets that are inherent in the program, students will also disaster preparedness, incident management, medical operations, fire safety, light search and rescue, and terrorism, all while helping your family and others in your community to become better prepared for emergencies and disasters. To potential instructors, join our effort. We need you. You can make a positive difference in your youth and within your community.”

The partners within MyPI National are replicating the model created and delivered in Mississippi. In 2014, the Mississippi Youth Preparedness Initiative was named FEMA’s national award winner for Outstanding Youth Preparedness program. It also received an Honorable Mention recognition for “Preparing the Whole Community.” In 2015, MyPI Mississippi was named one of the first entities to be named an official Affirmer of the new National Strategy for Youth Preparedness Education. As such, MyPI is an engaged and recognized component of a nationally supported, progressive approach to preparing youth for emergencies and disasters. MyPI National is also recognized as an Affirmer of the national strategy.

For additional information regarding MyPI South Carolina, including areas that the program will be delivered initially, please visit the MyPI South Carolina website at https://mypisouthcarolina.org and contact Steven Watterson, MyPI South Carolina Program Manager at SWatterson@ed.sc.gov or 803.734.8267. For more information regarding MyPI National, please visit the MyPI National website at http://mypinational.extension.msstate.edu or contact Dr. Ryan Akers, MyPI National Project Director at cra20@msstate.edu or 662.325.5914.  You may also reference both programs on Facebook. Those profiles can be found by searching “My PI South Carolina” and “My PI National” respectively.