From:	Diane Palmer [SPALMER@CLEMSON.EDU]
Sent:	Monday, November 26, 2007 9:54 AM
To:	spalmer@CLEMSON.EDU
Subject:	FYI - SC teens go national with "Who's Prepared?"

DATE:	 11/26/07
CONTACT:  Beverley Connelly, (843) 470-3655; bconnel@clemson.edu

SC teens go national with “Who's Prepared?”

CLEMSON -- Who's prepared? This was the question answered by five state teens, 
known as the 4-H South Carolina Spies at a presentation before 40 national 4-H 
agents in Atlanta, GA on Oct. 23. 

Dressed as spies, each youth gave a speech, complete with teen-created video 
and PowerPoint presentations relating to various preparedness activities they 
had completed at the
(NAE4-HA) National 4-H Agents Conference. 

Heather Maule, 18, Lee County, introduced each of thespies and their unique 
personalities. Rachael Stansfield, 15, from Lexington County, prepared videos 
and all the graphics for the presentation. During the presentation, Stansfield 
talked about the 4-H Senior Teen Weekend where she learned how to operateGPS 
(Global Positioning System) systems and toured the Emergency Management 
Division of S.C. in Columbia. 
Christopher Sumpter, 15, from Sumter County, presented the AES (Alert, 
Evacuate and Shelter) training that he and the other teens attended in 
Virginia in April. 

Each teen prepared for months, being trained in the operation and use of GPS 
equipment, mapping those points in (GIS) Geographic Information Systems, 
identifying emergency shelters. They were certified as Community Emergency 
Response Team (CERT) members.  

The training consisted of a GPS and GIS mapping course, provided training on 
how to alert people about danger, andhow to evacuate people to a safe shelter 
when an emergency occurs.T.J. Legge, 14, from Beaufort County, presented the 
Teen CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)training. Legge has attended two 
Teen CERT trainings where he learned how to assess damage, extinguish small 
fires and set up a triage when disaster strikes. Renee Bostic, 15,from Sumter 
County, spoke to the 4-H agents about the significance of GPS systems. She 
walked the agents through the basic use of the system and explained how they 
can bebeneficial in the process of establishing shelters and be used with GIS.

Beverley Connelly, Clemson Extension 4-H agent, coordinated the presentation. 
The 4-H’ers extended a special thanks to Beverley Connelly, Howard Van Dijk, 
Keesha Welch, Terry Sumpter, and Paulette Gay for their encouragement and 
effort they put into the successfuldevelopment of the presentation and to OMK 
(Operation Military Kids), the Military, and Clemson University for their 
sponsorship.

Being preparedis the South Carolina Spies'most crucial goal. 
When the state is faced with threats of natural disasterssuch as hurricanes, 
forest fires, earthquakes, floods, and man-made threats; people, with their 
pets and livestock need a place to take shelter. The SouthCarolina Spies 
continue their training by identifying shelters, using GPS systemsto gather 
coordinates of those shelters, and make maps using GIS to identify routes to 
these locations.

For more information, contact your local Clemson Extension Office.
 
                                 END

Clemson University serves the state's citizens, communities and businesses 
through Public Service Activities that include research, Extension and 
regulatory services. For more information, check outwww.clemson.edu/public/.