This four-day-long camp will be held June 25-28 from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center, 6575 N. “W” St. The HERricane Escambia Advisory Board will select up to 20 girls to participate in the 2024 program. There is no cost for students to participate. Applications will be accepted until Friday, March 29. Please note: HERricane may be rescheduled or canceled in the event of severe weather, natural disasters or real-life emergencies.
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What is HERricane?
HERricane is a girls’ summer camp to help rethink and improve outreach and engagement around emergency preparedness. The HERricane program was launched in Arlington, Va. in 2017 and has expanded throughout the United States since then. HERricane empowers women to pursue careers and leadership roles in emergency management through a week-long “camp,” and includes long-term professional development opportunities. Its mission is to develop and elevate women as leaders in emergency management and related careers while expanding the image of these professions as a positive force for improving public safety and government.
Eligibility
This program is open to young girls living in Escambia County who will be entering grades 7-9 for the 2024-2025 school year.
How to Apply
Interested students should download, print and complete the application. Applications can also be picked up from the Escambia County Public Safety building, located at 6575 N. “W” St., Pensacola, FL 32505. View and print the application here.
How to Submit Your Application
Applications for HERricane must be filled out by hand and should not be completed by a parent/guardian. To submit your application, please mail or drop off applications at the Escambia County Public Safety building, located at 6575 N. “W” St., Pensacola, FL 32505. Office hours are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Applicants may also scan the completed application and email it to HERricane@MyEscambia.com.
Why Should You Join HERricane?
To ensure that young women in Escambia County become energized about the impacts they can make in a world of emergencies and disasters. The emergency management field is evolving after every hurricane, wildfire and almost every major incident. Therefore, it’s imperative that we continue to evolve how we talk about preparedness and how we engage with our communities, including youth. This program is an investment into the future leaders of our community. Here are four facts to think about:
Underrepresentation: Women are underrepresented in leadership positions in Emergency Management across the nation.
Professional Awareness: Emergency Management, as a profession, is often “hidden” and awareness about it as a career is low.
Employment Opportunities: Careers in public safety are anticipated to grow 8% in the next decade.
Women are Disaster Victims: The United Nations Development Programme recognizes that women are disproportionately affected by disaster, particularly regarding loss of life, sexual violence, and loss of income.
For any additional questions, please email HERricane@MyEscambia.com.
Featured Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash