S.N.A.P Background In October, 1994 when much of the Beaumont area flooded,the students in the Individual Humanities Class at Austin Middle School volunteered to help flood victims during their free time. Working with the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and churches, they served food and baby-sat so parents could begin cleaning up and putting their lives back together.

The students began to hear about a segment of the population who had difficulty evacuating. People who were elderly or were mentally or physically challenged needed assistance to get out of the flooding area. Since these students had been trained to be problem solvers, they recognized the potential danger for these citizens. This was just the beginning. The Austin Middle School Students , the help of their teacher Mrs. Lynne Buchwald and Sgt. Robert Smith, an Austin parent and member of the Beaumont Police Department, researched existing evacuation plans. They found that the plans did not have a direct assistance plan in effect for people with special needs. They put their problem solving skills to work and developed a program called:

SNAP enables people who need help during a disaster to signal others. A special SNAP - Assistance Needed sign is placed in front to request help. The Beaumont Police Department, Beaumont Fire Department, and Jefferson County Emergency Management have agreed to work with the Austin Middle School students and look for SNAP signs during a disaster. The students surveyed a pilot area around the school and found there was an extreme need for their program. Knowing they could not survey the whole city, they began contacting groups who be willing to implement SNAP in their neighborhood or among their members. Approximately 125 groups have been contacted including Neighborhood Associations, Senior Citizens' groups, churches, civic organization, health care and city governments in the surrounding cities. World Wide Request ! The program has been requested by over a hundred organizations in 38 states, Puerto Rico and Australia.

It has been a subject of discussion in the Texas DEM Digest, Wanted Magazine,Natural Hazard Observer, EMAT - News, United Methodist Reporter, NCCEM Bulletin, Emergency Management Update (D.E.S., Virginia), Acrylics Today.

The S.N.A.P. program won first place in the Texas Future Problem Solving Competition, and First Place in International Future Problem Solving in Providence, R.I.

A Message From S.N.A.P. Members

The response to the S.N.A.P. program has been overwhelming. The time, energy and funding greatly surpassed our expectation. As the new school year began, the S.N.A.P. team knew that they would have to devote more time to their academics and less time to the project. The team decided to give the program to an organization that would continue the program. In October, during the annual church conference at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Beaumont, the congregation unanimously agree to take on the project. Since Sgt. Robert Smith was a member, he was volunteered to be the project director. The project is funded by small donation and hopefully someday grants. Any donation would be appreciated. Checks should be made to S.N.A.P. St. Luke's U.M.C.

The members of the S.N.A.P. team are kept updated as to what is going on with the program. Their goal was for every community in the United States to be a part of S.N.A.P. As long as the funding is available that dream will be kept alive. Robert Smith Project Director S.N.A.P. Special Needs Awareness Program

If you would like to receive a SNAP kit which can be adopted for any area please fill out this coupon and mail to the address below or email smithr@ih2000.net

YES! I would like to receive a SNAP kit. With this kit, I can duplicate the program.No charge.

YES! I would like to receive the SNAP kit in a Word Perfect Format. I have enclose $5. 00 to cover postage and handling. This makesduplication easier.

NO! But you have a great program, I would like to make a contribution of $

 Name:_____________________________ Organization:________________________
 Address:___________________________ City: _________________St. _____
 Zip: _______________ 
 Mail to:   S.N.A.P.
            St. Luke's U.M.C.
            Robert Smith - Project  Director 
            4265 East Lucas   Beaumont, Texas   77708 

Return to St. Luke's Home Page