Annual Essay Contest Promotes Culture of Preparedness

The Department of Education's Just Read, Florida! office has partnered with the Division of Emergency Management and several other emergency management partners, to conduct the annual statewide short essay contest for high school students as part of the 2007 Hazardous Weather Awareness Week, February 11 through 17.

An overall statewide winner and six winners and their respective teachers will be selected from each of the seven emergency management areas in the state. The state winner will receive $500 and a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio. The winning student in each of the remaining emergency management areas listed will receive $250 and a NOAA Weather Radio. The teacher of the statewide winner will receive $250 and a NOAA Weather Radio and the respective teacher for each of the six remaining area winners will receive $100 and a NOAA Weather Radio. Winners will be recognized during an award ceremony to be held in Tallahassee on Monday, Feb. 12, 2007.

For more information and a complete list of contest rules and requirements for 2008, please visit: www.JustReadFlorida.com or www.floridadisaster.org.