Rockdale Citizen

ATLANTA Hot on the heels of a summer full of movie superheroes, Georgia's third-, fourth- and fifth-graders are showing they've got what it takes to be superheroes in their own right.

For the fourth year, Ready Georgia, the emergency preparedness campaign from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security, is asking elementary students across the state to recognize National Preparedness Month in September with a creative art, essay and video contest. This year's theme "Georgia Kids are Super Ready" asks students to show how they can help their families prepare for all kinds of emergencies.

"This year's theme gives students the opportunity to envision themselves as their family's superhero. Superheroes are always coming to the rescue at the last minute, but being a real hero can mean getting ready before an emergency happens," said GEMA Director Charley English. "It underscores an important message we can all play a part in helping family and friends get ready for emergencies."

This year's contest is open to third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students living in Georgia. Students can submit entries in one of three categories:

-- Art Students are asked to submit their best artwork that reflects the contest theme. They can draw, paint or make a collage about what it looks like to be a preparedness superhero or how they can help their families get ready. Artwork must fit into an envelope no larger than 11 inches by 13 inches.

-- Essay Students are asked to write an essay that creatively describes how they can be a preparedness superhero. Some ideas for essay topics include the steps they have taken to prepare for emergencies or ways that kids can help teach others how to get ready. Essays should be no more than 500 words.

-- Video Entries can be created by either an individual or a class. The video should illustrate the contest theme and include information about the three steps to emergency preparedness Prepare, Plan and Stay Informed.

Children and their parents are encouraged to visit ready.ga.gov together to learn more about the three simple steps it takes to be ready create a Ready kit, develop a family communications plan and stay informed about potential local threats and use what they learn to create their entry.

Three judges will review the entries and select winners in October 2012. First, second and third prizes will be awarded in the art and essay categories, while one winner will be selected in the video category. All winners will be featured on the Ready Georgia website, Flickr page and Facebook page.

Prizes include:

-- A Ready kit donated by Ready Georgia sponsor The Home Depot

-- Gift shop items donated by Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta

-- A group pizza party donated by Papa John's

-- Admission passes to Legoland

-- Admission passes to Zoo Atlanta and an original painting by one of Zoo Atlanta's elephants

To enter, students and their parents should download and complete the entry form available at ready.ga.gov. Entries with attached entry form should be mailed to: Ready Georgia Contest, Cookerly Public Relations, 3424 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 500, Atlanta, GA 30326.

Essay entries may also be submitted via email to contest@ready.ga.gov.

All entries must be submitted, or postmarked if sent by mail, by Sept. 30, the last day of National Preparedness Month.

For more information about the contest or to play fun preparedness games and learn what Rex, the Ready Kids mascot, has to say about being ready, visit ready.ga.gov/Get-Involved/ReadyKids.