Student learn about how Georgia Army National Guard responds to disasters

Local students got a unique lesson Thursday on how the Georgia Army National Guard responds to natural disasters.

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Channel 2 Cobb County bureau chief Michele Newell reported that class looked different for Sprayberry High School students on Thursday morning.

“Every one of these scenarios that you’re about to go through is inspired by real life scenarios,” said Sgt. Tomas Navarro.

Students experienced real natural disasters to which the Georgia Army National Guard has responded.

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“I saw fires all around with a horse stable that we had to breakout and protect,” said Alyazia O’Riley, a senior.

This is Disasterville, an interactive virtual reality response program that takes students through wildfires, floods, and earthquakes.

“They are able to come through and actually have kind of like a hands-on scenario of what that’s like, pulling people from cars, pulling people from rubble and actually saving lives,” Navarro said.

“I think it’s really cool that students are able to get a glimpse of what military personnel who protect our environment and our community do,” O’Riley said.

The district blocked off about three hours of the school day to provide this opportunity to students.

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