Megana is an 11th grade student from New Jersey. Her interest in preparedness started after experiencing Hurricane Sandy and was further fueled by witnessing FEMA’s positive impact on underserved communities. As the daughter of Indian immigrants, she understands the need to bridge the gap in emergency preparedness knowledge and expand access to preparedness resources. Megana was drawn to the YPC for its ability to empower youth disaster preparedness and hopes her time on the national council is an opportunity to help build more resilient and sustainable communities.
Megana is the founder of a sustainable fashion brand that creates clothing from eco-friendly materials like banana stems, upcycled fabrics and cruelty-free silk. She hosts events to teach students about sustainable preparedness strategies like incorporating sustainable materials into emergency kits and how to leverage local resources. Megana has also served as a United Nations Youth Ambassador for the Sustainable Development Goals and Carbon Neutrality program, which has allowed her to advocate for environmental responsibility on a global stage.
Megana’s favorite pastime is dance, and she has practiced the Indian classical style of Kuchipudi for over a decade. She uses her dance practice as fundraising platform and has raised more than $7,000 for visually impaired children.