#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
Tonight's #RuralEdChat topic comes from my recent visit to the Florida Keys in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Debris along the sides of the road & boats washed ashore are a visible reminder of the destruction that occurred.
#RuralEdChat Sharon Huggins from Second Grade in Lake County (frequent fires) in NoCal. We're your disaster siblings. Call on us. We'll support ya. #nocalstrong
#RuralEdChat I'd like to add a perspective note. Third grade teacher lost her home in the Valley Fire of 2015. She just moved into her new home over the Thanksgiving break THIS YEAR. Superintendent's daughter lost her home in the Santa Rosa fire this year.
#RuralEdChat My point is that the disaster could be this year, but the results and the impact are for yearS, and in places like NoCal and Florida and Texas, there might even be a repeat B$ repair.
#RuralEdChat A1: Here in NH we've already had school closures due to the heavy winds and rains at the beginning of Nov. Our area was w/o power for 4 days, more in some areas. That, and snow/ice are our big worries.
#RuralEdChat My other point is that once you've been through a disaster or 2, you feel a strong connection to other disaster survivors & R happy to share experience lessons & resources. Maybe #disasteredchat community is on the horizon. You don't want to be a member until you do.
A1) most likely fire. Central WA gets hit with a pretty bad string of wildfires every few years. We're usually are far enough east to avoid them, so we're fortunate #RuralEdChat
Opioid epidemic is not something I originally thought of, but definitely has had a huge impact in Ohio and in the area I come from particularly. Good thought. #ruraledchat
#RuralEdChat Q1 - I know we're talking natural disasters, and for my home community that would extreme snow/cold, but I can't help but think that our local disasters were often tied to loss of life due to accident or other tragedy.
#RuralEdChat Gary is DA BOMB. Met him at a Rural Ed conference where I convinced him not to overlook us oldie-but-goodies and he gave super-sage advice with down-home charm. I'm trying not to be his super-creepy stalker fan. Howmydoin?
#RuralEdChat Q1 - I know we're talking natural disasters, and for my home community that would extreme snow/cold, but I can't help but think that our local disasters were often tied to loss of life due to accident or other tragedy.
#RuralEdChat We get lots of fires. Long-term droughts. Some flooding. (Weird to have both, right?) Rock slides. And earthquakes. We are also besieged by pink-camo and the smell of wacky weed. It's everywhere.
#RuralEdChat Love the Ozzies! Also, after our brutal fires up here in NoCal, my professor told me 2 check out Australian govt websites 4 ideas on fire support because of the prevalence of wildfires & all the OZ experience Oz. The content ROCKED. Stellar, slick, supportive stuff.
The school gymnasium was the only place in town large enough to host a funeral service for multiple victims of a car accident in my town. Families (and dif faith traditions) could come together in that space in a way they couldn't elsewhere. #ruraledchat
A2) Not a lot. I think a disaster would mean everyone would be poorly managed as students and families would do their own thing inhibiting any school response #ruraledchat
#RuralEdChat A2: Some NH schools also serve as emergency shelters. The elementary school in my town is one of those. It puts a kink in efforts to return to a *normal* schedule.
A2: I'm unsure of any procedures at my current student teaching placement school, but I remember doing things like tornado drills when I was in high school #RuralEdChat
I saw a great preso at @essdack's #Podstock conference by some Aussie Ts who had their Ss write a book about bush fire safety. The fire dept picked it up & it's spreading through the country, dare I say like wildfire. #RuralEdChat
In reply to
@SHuggins67, @GruntledChalkie, @ESSDACK
#RuralEdChat Oh, wow, yeah, opioid epidemic and cycles of rural poverty. That deserves it's own topic night. Super topical. Super important. Daily national news stuff. National agenda level stuff.
A2: The bad...I don’t think we have any formal measures for dealing with natural disasters and maintaining continuity.
The good...small rural communities able to quickly respond to the needs of each other...because they know each other.
#RuralEdChat
I'm in the Dandenongs. Our bushfires are intense but short lived.
Other parts of country can go for months.
We swap resources with Canada over each others summer #ruraledchat
#RuralEdChat A1/A2) a story from growing up: my near-urban, SW PA district didn't have many disaster plans, and certainly not for post-hurricane flood (which we got). The schools became a main shelter, getting to functional alone took a week.
#RuralEdChat A2: We have on-site school counselors. We also have this amazing goddess who runs a Healthy Start on campus & has an encyclopedic knowledge of community services for anything & everything & everybody & she runs around all the time solving problems & caring 4 people.
2/2: Gave me an appreciation for the importance of general planning to make use of school resources for community disasters. Because planned or not, it will probably happen to some degree. (And probably should!) #RuralEdChat
A3: I think that it's about showing strength and resilience in adversity. Getting up and back into the classroom and teaching, but also being mindful of what students may be going through. Make accommodations as needed. 1/2 #RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat A3: Sometimes the best thing for Ss and families is a return to a regular routine. With things out of one's control, to have a rhythm can be a calming thing.
#RuralEdChat Yeah, we had a problem w/ that. We were the emergency shelter for 3 fires in a row. We had to get special permission from the governor 2 waive min-school-day reqs so we could have a summer. Then the next fires hit & super was in bad sitch of having to redirect 2 alt.
Kelly here from ACOFEE. As communities deal with the after math of a disaster schools can play a vital role in restoring the wellbeing of students and families. It will be difficult to move forward while wellbeing is suffering. #RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat Cool! One of the Ozzie websites I found was packed and deeply-layered with links to a variety of tons of stuff - including original writings from students about fire experiences. #goodstuff
In reply to
@edventures, @GruntledChalkie, @ESSDACK
Critical points of education, too. Exposure to these sorts of realities, and to a collective (and intergenerational) response are essential for building resilience and perspective. #ruraledchat
In reply to
@SHuggins67, @GruntledChalkie, @edventures
#RuralEdChat You guys (Ozzies) always come 2 our fires and we love you for it. I think the international & multi-state response is...movingly beautiful as well as critically helpful.
A3: Think that schools have an *obligation* to help with community recovery efforts.
Maybe just providing space, or expertise (especially CTE Center staff & students).
Rural schools are often the one common thread in a community.
#RuralEdChat
A4: I don't know if there is a uniform answer to this because every disaster is different and the conditions are going to change based on place & time. Of course, essentials are necessary for every classroom, teacher, and school. #ruraledchat
#RuralEdChat Yeah, space, space, space. Ex 1: Our library and multi-use rooms were used to sort, store, and serve clothing donations. Ex 2. Our school kitchen fridge was used to store donated turkeys. Great donation, but where's a family lost it's home supposed to put the bird?
Totally agree, this is where we know what families need support, and can be that link to services, both government services, and to other services provided by civic organizations in the area. #RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat Seriously. She's THE BEST. I watched her shuttle 4 kids 2 the dentist today in between finding someone a therapist, doing a home visit, & sorting food bags 4 families-in-need. I go 2 her all the time. She even comes 2 SSTs. Her name is Wendy Gattoni. I'll ask her.
#RuralEdChat My sister lives in the Bay Area & keeps wanting me 2 move back down there. After the Valley Fire she told the family I'd never come back because the fires forged too strong a bond 2 the community. I thought it was an interesting observation.
In reply to
@maryconger, @GruntledChalkie, @edventures
#RuralEdChat Yes. American Red Cross told us one of the things people don't think of is that disaster survivors need eyeglasses, prescriptions, & other vital custom items that cannot be donated, but only purchased. #stuffyadontthinkoftildisasterstrikes
A4: Wonder how schools might ask to be at the table with fire/rescue, law enforcement, municipalities in discussions around whole community plans.
Planning already happens...how can we play a part?
#RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat Good luck with that! We're on fire here! (If you'll pardon the expression.) I've been here from the start and I'm still struggle-racing to keep up!
A4: Wonder how schools might ask to be at the table with fire/rescue, law enforcement, municipalities in discussions around whole community plans.
Planning already happens...how can we play a part?
#RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat It's also an OPPORTUNITY. We spend so much time talking about how to engage & serve the community during non-disaster times. Then disaster hits & man, you help w/the recovery & you've got them engaged & it has legs & lives on. People remember.
Teach them to make good decisions. Sounds terrible but drill what to do.
I've know of people die in fires from getting themselves trapped on a split second decision #ruraledchat
#RuralEdChat Another good point. In small-town rural areas, the food staff of schools are often the best & sometimes only experts in preparing meals to feed large groups. Also, I dunnoabout you guys, but our food director is great about getting grants.
