OC announces Annual Tornado Poster Contest

Oconee County Emergency Services announces their annual Tornado Safety Poster Contest. The contest is open to all students in grades 1 – 5 in any Oconee County school, explains Oconee County Emergency Services Deputy Chief of Special Operations Scott Krein. “Each year we get this opportunity to see all these posters that these elementary school kids think up. It is interesting and at the same time, it is a great opportunity to teach through art the safety techniques and the warnings for tornadoes. So, this contest is an opportunity for us to recognize some of those students at the same time as we are educating them. Trying to help them at an early age know the importance of tornado safety.” There will be winners and runners-up at each grade level and a grand prize winner. Chief Krein says this contest is about teaching ahead of a disaster. “One thing we have learned is that during a disaster you don’t need to be teaching what needs to be done, we need to do that ahead of time. This is one way we do that through art education to have them remember what to do during a disaster.” Winners from each grade level will be chosen by a committee of judges during the period of Feb. 21-27. Schools with winners will be notified during the period of Feb. 28, through March 6. Certificates and cash prizes will be presented at the Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, March 13, at 10am in Council Chambers of the Oconee County Government Office. Entries must be submitted on standard poster paper (22” X 28”). The student’s name, grade level and school name should be clearly printed in ink on the back of the poster for easy identification. Only one entry per student and no joint entries (by more than one person) will be accepted. Each entry will be judged on originality, message, impact and effort. Entries should be submitted to the office of Emergency Services no later than Feb. 16, 2018.