Disasterville Returns: Army National Guard Brings Mixed-Reality Disaster Response Missions Back to Schools

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Sep 22, 2026, 08:00 ET

At a Glance

This fall, the U.S. Army National Guard's mixed-reality experience, Disasterville, is returning to high schools nationwide to show students how National Guard Soldiers respond to natural disasters and emergencies.
Disasterville guides students through high-tech, virtual missions to tackle wildfires, floods, and earthquakes in the same way as the Guard.
The Disasterville tour continues to introduce students to the possibilities available in the Army National Guard—a unique component within the U.S. Army where Soldiers have the flexibility to serve their country part-time while also pursuing a civilian career or higher education.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, the Army National Guard's immersive mixed-reality experience, Disasterville, will begin its second nationwide tour of high schools, giving students a first-hand look at how to prepare for and respond to natural disasters—without leaving their schools. Disasterville is activating in high school gyms where it will take students through virtual missions to tackle wildfires, floods, and earthquakes, just like Soldiers responding to similar emergencies in communities across the country. This follows Disasterville's successful inaugural tour in spring 2026, which reached more than 2,000 students.

Disasterville, a mixed-reality experience from the Army National Guard, is back to show high school students around the country how Soldiers respond to natural disasters and emergencies through hands-on simulations. The experience is a rare opportunity for young Americans to understand what it really takes to prepare, respond, and protect their local communities.

Disasterville, a mixed-reality experience from the Army National Guard, transforms high school gyms into free-roam virtual neighborhoods and disaster zones, placing students in the center of disaster relief efforts.

Disasterville, a mixed-reality experience from the Army National Guard, puts high school students on the front lines of disaster relief missions. Students wear virtual headsets and team up with classmates to tackle full-scale, mission-oriented disaster zones, including wildfires, floods, and earthquakes.

Disasterville, a mixed-reality experience from the Army National Guard, lets students work together in teams of five to complete missions that draw on the communication, physical endurance, and decision-making skills of trained Soldiers.

Disasterville, a mixed-reality experience from the Army National Guard, features advanced hand-tracking technology, eliminating the need for game controllers and allowing students to interact with others and physically use in-game props.

Disasterville, a mixed-reality experience from the Army National Guard, places students at the center of simulated Guard missions like firefighting. Students will put out small wildfires, combine forces to push back larger flare-ups, save animals, and dodge falling trees.

Disasterville, a mixed-reality experience from the Army National Guard, places students at the center of simulated Guard missions like flood rescues. Students will board their Zodiac and use headlamps to find and safely evacuate survivors while avoiding dangerous wildlife and other lurking hazards.

Disasterville, a mixed-reality experience from the Army National Guard, places students at the center of simulated Guard missions like earthquake relief. Students arm themselves with the jaws of life to rescue survivors and clean up debris.

Disasterville, a mixed-reality experience from the Army National Guard, gives high school students around the country the opportunity to speak with Army National Guard recruiters to learn more about service, including the Guard’s role in disaster relief efforts that make an impact in communities across the country.

"Natural disasters are not slowing down, and Army National Guard Soldiers are playing a critical role in response efforts across the country," says Lt. Col. Sabrina Zowada, Chief of the National Guard Bureau's Marketing and Advertising Branch. "Disasterville is a one-of-a-kind perspective for students to see how and when the Guard is showing up in their communities, and experience the real skills and impact of these important missions."

Disasterville is transforming high school gyms from September through November in the following cities: Memphis, Tenn.; Chicago, Ill.; Hagerstown, Md.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Long Island, N.Y.; Richmond, Va.; and Atlanta, Ga.

Students Work Together to Respond to Common Missions

Disasterville uses advanced mixed-reality technology to create three 10-minute missions most common to Army National Guard response efforts. Working together in teams of five, students are called to service at the following sites:

Wildfire: Amid a raging wildfire, teams work together to push back fires encroaching on a home in Disaster Canyon. Students will put out small wildfires, combine forces to push back larger flare-ups, save animals, and dodge falling trees.
Flood Zone: After a major hurricane, civilians are fighting to stay above water on the streets they call home. Students will board their Zodiac and use headlamps to find and safely evacuate survivors while avoiding dangerous wildlife and other lurking hazards.
Earthquake: After a devastating earthquake, a train carrying hazardous chemicals and passengers derails, pinning civilians and spilling dangerous material, poisoning the air. Time ticks down as students arm themselves with the jaws of life to rescue survivors and clean up debris, all before the train gives way under its own weight.

"We saw firsthand how students connected with the Disasterville experience. They didn't just learn about disaster response—they felt the responsibility," says Lt. Col. Zawada. "Today's young people want purpose; they want action, and they want to know how they can contribute to something meaningful. We're excited to show even more students how the Guard meets that need."

Mixed-Reality Technology Brings Immersion and Impact

Disasterville utilizes advanced mixed-reality technology with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) graphics mapped to large plywood structures, creating a free-roam virtual neighborhood experience in high school gyms. Students wear virtual reality headsets with multiplayer, local-network tracking to engage with classmates in-game as the structures around them become devastated buildings, debris, rough terrain, and hazards, rescuing people in need. The technology also features advanced hand tracking, eliminating the need for game controllers and allowing students to interact with others and physically use in-game props and Army National Guard rescue tools like oars, hoses, chainsaws, and the jaws of life.

Extended reality (XR) industry expert Dale Carman helped the Army bring the Disasterville experience to life. Carman is the co-founder and executive creative director at Groove Jones, which has over 25 years of experience in feature films, immersive tech, and branded productions.

A specialized tour crew will be present at each tour stop to guide participants safely through each mission. Army National Guard recruiters will also be available to connect with students and answer questions about service.

For more information on the Army National Guard, visit NationalGuard.com.

Supplementary Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Disasterville, and how does the experience work?
A: Disasterville is a mixed-reality experience from the U.S. Army National Guard touring the nation, transforming gymnasiums into full-scale, mission-oriented disaster zones to show students how National Guard Soldiers respond to natural disasters and emergencies through hands-on simulations. Students wear Meta Quest 3 headsets with multiplayer, local-network tracking to engage with classmates in-game as the structures around them become devastated buildings, debris, rough terrain, hazards, and people in need. Students are guided firsthand through high-tech, virtual missions, working together in teams to tackle three disaster zones -- wildfire, flood zone, and earthquake -- the same way as the Guard, by combining communication, physical endurance, and ingenuity to save lives, landscape, and their communities.

Q: Where will Disasterville be traveling?
A: Following a successful 2026 spring tour, Disasterville will head to even more high schools September through November in the following cities: Memphis, Tenn.; Chicago, Ill.; Hagerstown, Md.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Long Island, N.Y.; Richmond, Va.; and Atlanta, Ga. At each tour stop, a specialized tour crew will ensure the safety of and guide participants through each mission. Army National Guard recruiters will also be available to connect with students and answer questions about Guard service.

Q: What do Army National Guard Soldiers do? Where and how do they serve?
A: With a presence in 54 states and territories, the Army National Guard is a unique component of the U.S. Army where Soldiers serve part-time to support communities in their home state by responding to domestic emergencies and at the federal level as standby support for Active Duty Soldiers. Serving at least one weekend a month and two weeks a year, National Guard Soldiers have the flexibility to pursue their civilian personal and professional passions.

Q: Where can I learn more about opportunities in the Army National Guard?
A: For more information on the opportunities in the National Guard, visit NationalGuard.com.

About the Army National Guard (ARNG):
With a presence in 54 states and territories, the Army National Guard is a unique component of the U.S. Army where Soldiers support communities in their home state by responding to domestic emergencies and at the federal level as standby support for Active Duty Soldiers. Army National Guard Soldiers have the flexibility to serve part-time across medical, aviation, law enforcement, transportation, and engineering fields and beyond, while also pursuing their personal and professional goals through a civilian career or higher education. For more information on the opportunities in the National Guard, visit NationalGuard.com.

SOURCE U.S. Army