Disaster Preparedness
Disaster Preparedness for Kids and Families
Children are especially vulnerable during disasters due to sudden changes in their routine and environment, as well as exposure to potentially harmful elements of the hazard. However, they are also incredibly resilient and will fare much better if included in your family emergency plan preparation. Open, honest conversations about potential disasters can make a big difference. Disasters can strike anywhere at any time, and every family member has a role to play in being prepared.
Kids Corner, Office of Disaster Management Dominica
Discussing Disasters with Kids
The first step to preparing your children for disasters is having open and honest conversations with them about potential disasters. Talk to your kids about all the disasters that are common or likely to occur in your area, and provide them with short, easy to remember tips about what to do if this were to happen. (For example, “If you ever feel the ground shaking, that is called an earthquake, and you should DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON”). You can dictate how you would like to go about the conversation based on the child’s age and personality. Every kid may need something a little different, and you know your kiddo best! Just remember when having these conversations to emphasize that there are steps you can take as a family to stay safe and make it through whatever disaster may occur. This will encourage you all to be proactive. Remember the phrase, don’t be scared, get prepared!
There are lots of resources available to help and further your preparedness discussions with kids, like books, games, and shows! Checkout the activities and resources for teaching kids about preparedness below.
Online Disaster Games for Kids and Teens
Disaster Books for Kids and Teens
- “Without Warning”
- Comic Book Series covering Earthquakes, Wildfires, and Tsunamis.
- You can request a copy from City of Florence City Hall
- “Being Safe After a Flood” Activity Book
- “Trinka and Sam: The Rainy Windy Day”
- “Trinka and Sam: The Day the Earth Shook”
Other Resources
Preparing for a Disaster with Your Kids
As you continue discussing disasters with your kids, begin including them in the family emergency plan preparation efforts. Help them create their own go-bag, and support them in regularly maintaining and updating it. Your kids go bag should include some non-perishable foods, water, a change of clothes, a map, contact information for you, your household, and your family, identification for them, and some games, toys, books, or coloring activities to keep them entertained. As they get older, they can include more in their go-bag, and focus on more survival-based items.
You should not only discuss evacuating with your kids, but practice it too. Show your kids your evacuation route on a map, and practice actually walking the route from your home to your designated evacuation site (either a local assembly area (marked on local inundation zone maps) or a designated friend or relative outside of the inundation zone) with all of your go-bags. Consider timing yourselves, and make a game out of regularly doing the route and seeing if you can get faster and faster each time.
You should create a reunification plan with your children in case you get separated during or after the disaster. This should include your contact information, as well as the contact information of a designated relative. Your designated relative should be ready to support communication between you and your family during a disaster and be familiar with your reunification and evacuation plans. Your reunification plan should also include instructions on where your child should wait if you get separated and who they should contact if they can’t find you (your designated contact relative and local police).
Visit these resources for further learning:
- https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/teaching-kids-about-emergency-preparedness/how-families-can-prepare-for-emergencies.html
- https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/disaster-relief-in-america/preparedness
- https://youth.gov/youth-topics/youth-disaster-preparedness-and-response/preparing-for-disasters-family
- https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/individuals-communities/youth
Youth Preparedness and Opportunities for Engagement
In addition to games, books, shows, and other preparedness activities, there are several opportunities for young people to get involved in disaster preparedness on a broader scale.
- FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council (YPC)
- Open to students Grade 8 – 11
- “The council supports FEMA’s commitment to involve America’s youth in preparedness-related activities. It also provides young people an opportunity to present their perspectives, feedback, and opinions to FEMA staff. Members regularly meet with staff and attend the annual Youth Preparedness Council virtual summit.” – YPC
- Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
- National program of teen volunteers supporting their community’s disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.
- Campus CERT
- National program of college-student volunteers supporting their campus’ disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.
- National program of college-student volunteers supporting their campus’ disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.