Shyleen Richardson and Alyssa Currier, students at Liberty Ridge Elementary in Sumner, claimed a $500 prize for their school’s disaster preparedness efforts. Hundreds of students throughout the Puget Sound competed in a drawing contest to raise awareness on the importance of preparing for disasters and catastrophes.

Students from elementary schools in King, Kitsap, Island, Mason, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, and Thurston counties submitted drawings that represented their idea of preparing and planning ahead for catastrophes. The $500 prize was sponsored by Puget Sound Energy, an important partner in emergency preparedness.

The contest theme, “What to do to make it through,” was based on a new public education campaign developed by local emergency management agencies across the Puget Sound. The campaign urges people to take three important steps to become more prepared for catastrophes: make a plan; build a kit; and help each other.

For useful checklists, educational videos, and preparedness resources, visit www.makeitthrough.org/. To find out more about how you can become involved in local emergency preparedness efforts, visitwww.piercecountywa.org/prepare.