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On this page, find information you can use to help teach your kids how to prepare for and recover from a disaster. You can also learn about services that may be available to help you.
Children and Young Adults - Disasters can strike quickly and sometimes without warning. They’re scary enough for adults and can be very traumatic for kids, especially if they don't know what to do. Learn how you can help your kids prepare for a disaster and cope when it’s over. (American Red Cross)
Be a Hero! - Are you ready for the unexpected? Learn how to make an emergency plan and build a kit with your family. Help everyone prepare! You can also find games for the kids, facts about natural disasters, and tips and resources for parents and educators. (Ready.gov)
Let's Get Ready! - Get your whole family involved and learn how to plan for emergencies – together. Create a family emergency plan and a kit to help your kids remember important information. There are guides, tips, checklists, and other tools to help you get started. (Sesame Street)
Helping Kids Cope with Disaster - The way kids react to the emotional stress of a disaster can take many forms. Learn some of the common reactions for different ages. Learn how to spot risk factors and vulnerabilities in kids, how to meet their emotional needs, and how to reassure them after a disaster. You can also find out how to get support for your own needs to make you better able to help your kids. (FEMA)
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) - Learn about WIC, the supplemental nutrition program for qualified women, infants, and children (up to age five). WIC offers benefits by state and includes supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education. You can find toll-free numbers, a state agency list, income requirements, and learn how to apply for benefits. (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Below is a list of checklists, forms, guides, and tips you can download and use to help your family prepare for and recover from emergencies.
Be Prepared, Build a Kit – Learn what you need and make a checklist of things your family should keep ready in case of an emergency. (Ready.gov)
Prepare Now for Peace of Mind Later - A Family Health and Safety Guide (PDF, 568 KB) - This guide offers tips on ways to prepare your family for an emergency. You can learn things like first aid for choking, how to disinfect drinking water, sports safety, and how to help reduce the spread of germs. (American Red Cross)
Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster (PDF, 308 KB) – Learn how to talk to your kids about their feelings after a disaster. Learn what some of the common reactions are by different age groups. You can also find a list of resources and hotlines you can reach out to if you need more help. (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
After the Storm: Information for Parents on How Schools Can Help After Disasters (PDF, 708 KB) – If you had to leave your home because of a disaster, your kids can still go to school. School can be a safe place where kids can start to get back to life as it was. They may be able to go to the same school they were already going to or they may need to go to one closer to where you're staying. This handbook can help you find the information and support you need to help with the decisions you need to make. (National Center for Homeless Education)
Watch these fun videos with your kids to help them learn about emergency preparedness.
Administrator Fugate on Preparedness for Kids - Watch 10-year-old Kayleigh Skolnick interview former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate about how kids and families can prepare for disasters. He shares a site where you can go to find out how to prepare and even how to plan for your pets. (FEMA's YouTube channel)
Sesame Street - Let’s Get Ready! - Watch Sesame Street characters sing and kids narrate videos that help teach your whole family how to prepare for emergencies. Created by Sesame Workshop and its project partners. (Sesame Street)
