Wisconsin STEP program prepares students for emergency situations

Wisconsin’s Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP) program is helping prepare young students for potential emergencies in their communities. The program, specifically designed for fourth and fifth-grade students, provides essential emergency preparedness education through their schools.

Building preparedness skills

The STEP program delivers critical emergency response training through an engaging curriculum developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle highlights the program’s impact: “Teaching young people about disaster preparedness empowers them to protect not only themselves, but their families and their communities. With STEP, we’re not just giving teachers and students knowledge, we’re giving them the confidence and the tools to make a difference.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency-developed curriculum teaches students key emergency preparedness skills, including identifying hazards in their area, understanding emergency response actions, and creating emergency plans and kits with their families. To support this learning, Wisconsin Emergency Management provides participating schools with materials like backpacks and flashlights to help students build their own emergency kits.

Growing reach and resources

This year’s program has enrolled nearly 4,500 fourth and fifth-grade students across 85 classrooms and educational settings. Since its launch in 2011, STEP has reached an estimated 107,000 students throughout Wisconsin.

The program receives valuable community support, including a recent $10,000 grant from TC Energy through its “Build Strong” social impact program. TC Energy’s state government and community relations advisor Craig Summerfield explains: “At TC Energy, safety is our number one value. A key part of this commitment is fostering a culture where everyone adopts a safety-conscious mindset and takes ownership.”

Community support and partnerships

STEP operates as part of Wisconsin Emergency Management’s ReadyWisconsin campaign, which works to improve disaster preparedness across the state. Wisconsin educators interested in bringing the STEP program to their fourth and fifth-grade classrooms can find more information on Ready Wisconsin’s website.

This story was generated in part by AI and edited by The UpNorthNews staff.