November 4, 2004
Disaster preparedness is no game - unless you're playing this one
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Take heed, Mother Nature. Disaster Dave is here to ward off your nastiest weather disaster.
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"Disaster Dave's Misadventures," an educational computer activity developed by Purdue University Extension with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has just been released for the public. The focus of the program is to teach disaster-readiness skills in a fun and entertaining fashion. This is done through Disaster Dave, whom students help navigate through a variety of natural and other disasters.
From blizzards to tornadoes, from hazardous materials spills to national security emergencies, Disaster Dave's fictional community is either destroyed or spared, depending upon the skills and knowledge of the player. In one activity, for example, Disaster Dave faces a snow emergency. He has to decide how and when to take shelter and what items to pack in disaster supply kits.
If Dave makes the right choices, the city and its residents make it through the storm. However, if he makes poor choices, the simulated story worsens, and the city suffers.
"We know that students learn best when they interact with materials," says Purdue 4-H specialist Roger Tormoehlen. "We designed the game to provide simulated scenarios, portraying real disasters that can be influenced by student actions."
The CD-ROM is the brainchild of disaster communication specialist Steve Cain. Tormoehlen provided curriculum development, and Web programmer Craig Personette supplied technical assistance.
The partnership to develop the game grew out of FEMA's desire to develop educational materials that would teach disaster skills to teenagers and Purdue Extension's longstanding efforts in disaster-preparedness education.
"We wanted a way to educate kids about disasters so that they would be safe, especially when they are home alone and may have no way to call anyone else," Cain said. "While it's crucial that local officials prepare for major storms, families can, too, and kids can help with that."
Cain also noted that families can volunteer to help during local emergencies, and the game helps teens prepare for this type of community service. Teachers may use the CD-ROM in the classroom in conjunction with lessons on natural disasters. Extension educators or local emergency managers also can use it in educational meetings or in informal settings.
Details on the release of the game are available online. Individuals interested in purchasing copies of the game, which sell for $10 each or $150 for a set of 25, should contact Purdue Extension at (888) EXT-INFO (398-4636) or via e-mail at media.order@purdue.edu.
Writer: Jennifer Cutraro, (765) 496-2050, jcutraro@purdue.edu
Sources: Roger Tormoehlen, (765) 494-8422, torm@purdue.edu
Steve Cain, (765) 494-8410, cain@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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GRAPHIC CAPTION:
Disaster Dave helps kids learn disaster-readiness skills in "Disaster Dave's Misadventures," a new educational computer game developed by Purdue Extension and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
A publication-quality graphic is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2004/disaster-dave.jpg
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