Watershed Protection’s first annual Flood Safety Video Contest is now open! 

In this contest, Austin area 6th through 12th grade students are invited to create their very own short PSA showing how to “Turn Around - Don't Drown®.” The winning PSAs will receive a $100 gift card, and their video may be aired on local news stations.

A PSA, or Public Service Announcement, is a short announcement created to provide information to the public. PSAs may look and feel different, but they share the same goal: to persuade people to take action and help solve an issue that affects the community.

Calling all sixth through twelfth graders! Enter the Flood Safety Video Contest by March thirty-first for a chance to win.

Contest Details

Contest Eligibility: This contest is open to all 6th through 12th graders in the Austin area. We will announce one individual, one foreign language and one team winner in each grade category for a total of nine winners. 

Contest Period: Submissions will be accepted from January 9 through March 31. Winners will be announced April 7. 

Contest Rules

  • Must be submitted as a link. (Please upload your video to a hosting website like YouTube, Vimeo or social media platforms.)

  • Must be no longer than 30 seconds in length. 

  • Video may contain vertical clips, but must be submitted in horizontal format (landscape). 

  • May be submitted in any language. 

  • Must NOT include any offensive materials.  

  • Must NOT include ANY copyrighted music, audio/video clips, characters, logos, or other protected material. Videos may include music only if it is considered “open source” music, or if it is composed and played by a student (or students) in the group. 

  • Must agree the City of Austin owns all submitted videos. Winners and their legal guardians agree to the City of Austin right to property in which the city may edit and distribute the video. 

Check out the Flood Safety Rule Book to learn more or get tips and tools for your PSA. 

Submissions

All video submissions must be submitted as a link. Please upload your video to a video hosting website like YouTube, Vimeo or a social media platform and generate a link so we can watch it online. 

Once you finish your PSA, send an email to becca.villarreal@austintexas.gov with: 

  • Your full name or the designated point of contact for your group (class submissions should include teacher’s name)

  • The name of your school and your grade  

  • Student or legal guardian’s email address and phone number

  • The link to your uploaded PSA 

Questions?

Need more info about this contest? Reach out to the Watershed Protection Department by emailing becca.villarreal@austintexas.gov or calling (737) 291-3093. Go to the ATX Flood Safety website for more information about flood safety.