January 13, 2023
National Youth Preparedness Council Application Period Opens January 23
Submitted by Rick Peterson and Sarah Maass
Starting on Jan. 23, teens with a passion for preparedness can apply to join FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council! The YPC offers an opportunity for teens to share their ideas and feedback with FEMA, improve their leadership skills, and develop preparedness projects. YPC members also participate in an annual youth summit in Washington, D.C. with FEMA leaders and preparedness professionals to network and learn more about the field of emergency management.
FEMA created the YPC in 2012 to bring together young leaders from across the country who are excited about emergency preparedness and making a difference in their communities. Since then, hundreds of young people have served on both the FEMA National YPC and FEMA Regional YPCs. Throughout the years, YPC members have started preparedness clubs at their schools, hosted fairs and events in their communities, led Teen Community Emergency Response Teams (Teen CERTs), and developed a variety of preparedness materials, from children’s books to informative videos.
Applicants can apply through either a written or video response. They must provide two letters of recommendation and a list of extracurricular activities and trainings. To showcase their qualifications, applicants can also add optional supplemental materials, such as links to news stories, awards, blog posts, and more.
Once applications are evaluated, FEMA staff will conduct interviews with selected semi-finalists. Successful applicants highlight their preparedness, service and leadership experience and provide a well-rounded overview of their qualifications. FEMA will notify selected candidates in May. Interested students can apply online at https://community.fema.gov/PreparednessCommunity/s/apply-to-ypc. The application period begins Jan. 23, 2023 and closes March 6, 2023.
Save the dates! FEMA will host two webinars for potential applicants to learn more about the YPC application process and to ask FEMA staff questions about the application.
- Webinar #1 Applicant Information Session:
- January 30, 2023, 7pm CT
- Register here
- Webinar #2 Applicant Information Session:
- February 28, 2023, 7pm CT
- Register here
Share information about the YPC with a young person in grades 8 - 11 in your community!
2023 YPC Application Flyer English
2023 YPC Application Flyer Spanish