HERricane

What is HERricane?

HERricane is a girls’ summer camp to help rethink and improve outreach and engagement around emergency preparedness. This camp is a part of the movement to empower women and bring greater diversity to the emergency management profession and allied fields. We have a responsibility to our community and our colleagues to improve emergency management as a discipline, and programs like HERricane can help move that needle. 

The HERricane program was launched in Arlington, Va. in 2017 and has expanded throughout the United States since then. HERricane empowers women to pursue careers and leadership roles in emergency management through a week-long “camp,” and includes long-term professional development opportunities. Its mission is to develop and elevate women as leaders in emergency management and related careers while expanding the image of these professions as a positive force for improving public safety and government. 

Why Should You Join HERricane?

To ensure that young women in Escambia County become energized about the impacts they can make in a world of emergencies and disasters. The emergency management field is evolving after every hurricane, after every wildfire and after almost every major incident. Therefore, it’s imperative that we continue to evolve how we talk about preparedness and how we engage with our communities, including our youth. This program is an investment into the future leaders of our community. Here are four facts to think about:

1. Underrepresentation: Women are underrepresented in leadership positions in Emergency Management across the nation.
2. Professional Awareness: Emergency Management, as a profession, is often “hidden” and awareness about it as a career is low.
3. Employment Opportunities: Jobs in public safety are anticipated to grow 8% in the next decade.
4. Women are Disaster Victims: The United Nations Development Programme recognizes that women are disproportionately affected by disaster, particularly regarding loss of life, sexual violence and loss of income.

How to Donate or Become a Sponsor

Would you like to become a sponsor the HERricane Escambia 2025? To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, email HERricane@myescambia.com.

Be sure to email HERricane@MyEscambia.com for any additional questions.

In Memory of Tamika Williams, 2024 HERricane Advisory Board Member

HERricane Advisory Board

• Scottlin Williams, Program Manager
• Kelly Goad
• Shandra Jenkins
• Christal Bell-Rivera
• Vanessa Phillips