STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Instructors interested in helping young people, families and communities prepare for disasters can take part in a two-day training event in December at Mississippi State University.

The Mississippi Youth Preparedness Initiative Instructor Certification and Training Workshop will be Dec. 5 and 6 at the Bost Conference Center on the Starkville campus. The initiative is abbreviated as MyPI.

Ryan Akers, an associate Extension professor in the Mississippi State University School of Human Sciences, said the program’s emphasis is on individual, family and community disaster preparedness and resilience.

“Every community in Mississippi is at risk for a variety of disasters,” he said. “The program examines issues related to hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, public health issues and other natural disasters and human-caused emergencies, including active shooter incidents and civil unrest.”

Akers said safety and awareness are the ultimate goals in preparing for threats across the state and region.

“Instructors teach skills to make individuals, families and communities safer in the event of a disaster. Participants also learn their responsibility to their community’s preparedness and response efforts,” he said.

MSU Extension developed MyPI and administers MyPI National in 27 states and two U.S. territories. The program has won multiple recognitions, including two national awards from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in 2014 and 2017.

Akers encouraged Extension personnel and volunteers, members of the law enforcement and public safety sectors, and allied health science teachers and vocational-technical directors to enroll while spaces are available.

“This training is essential for instructors wanting to conduct MyPI classes in 2019,” Akers said. “Grant funding covers the cost of training materials and enrollment fees.”

To register, contact Akers at [email protected]. Visit the MyPI program site at http://mypi.extension.msstate.edu/.