Program Name Washington State Seismic Series
for Schools; "Terry the Turtle and Gracie the Wonder Dog"
Administering Agency Washington Military
Department, Emergency management Division, PEET Unit
Contact Person (Name/Title)
Barbara
Thurman, Public Education Program Manager
Address
Building
20, Camp Murray, Washington 98430-5122
Telephone Number
(253)
512-7047
Fax Number
(253)
512-7206
Washington State is vulnerable to both earthquake and
volcanic activity. With this ever-present threat in mind, Washington State
Emergency Management embarked on the creation of materials to address the
states' threat targeting Washington school children. The developers quickly
realized that the materials would have to be created in a very
non-threatening manner, and in a format easily understood by children. EMD
contracted with a Master Degree Teacher, Mrs. Laurie Dent-Cleveland, to
author the storybooks. Her task was to create a product that would attract
the attention of children and yet meet the Essential Academic Learning
Requirements (EALRS) for Washington State.
A designer was contracted to create characters for the
series that children could relate to. Animals familiar to the children were
the main characters and they remain consistent throughout the three books.
The characters were created in such a way as to tell the story even if the
children could not read the words.
The program was funded by money from the Earthquake
Program and the State Public Education Program. Total cost for the project
was about $7500.00. EMD has gone to reprint with the earthquake editions of
the books and plans a reprint of the volcano book in late summer. Schools
and children within the state have enthusiastically received both versions.
Alternate venues for the storybooks has been government
offices such as Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), hospitals,
doctor’s offices, daycare centers, libraries, and handouts at county
fairs. Immediately after the Nisqually Earthquake, FEMA did a reprint on the
earthquake storybooks and distributed thousands to schools and private
citizens within the State of Washington.
