In advance of National Boy Scouts day on Feb. 8, staff at the Pearl River County Emergency Operations Center held a day for members of Cub Scout Pack 28 and Boy Scout Troop 28 last Saturday.

Danny Manley, Pearl River County EOC Director, said that the event was a good way to get the young people of the county excited about emergency services. It also gave their parents a chance to see what emergency services provides to the residents of Pearl River County.

According to a release from the EOC, about 20 children attended the two-hour event, which featured a tour of the facility, presentation by Manley that informed the children about how the EOC coordinates with agencies across the county, state and nation to respond to emergency situations and manage resources.

The children also got to see demonstrations of emergency communication equipment and Pine Grove Fire Chief Steve Seal talked to the children about emergency preparedness. Seal also showed the children how his dog, Bo, tracks people who become lost in the woods.

Manley said the search dog was a hit during the event, even bigger than the fire truck Poplarville Fire Department brought for the children to see. 

The children also learned about volunteerism and received a emergency whistle with a compass from the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security, the release states.