Community Emergency Preparedness for Children
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Children in Tulsa, Oklahoma participate in a disaster preparedness workshop, part of a comprehensive community emergency preparedness pilot program conducted by Save the Children. Photo by Tom Gilbert |
Hurricane Katrina demonstrated that few disaster plans exist to help safeguard children before, during and after disasters in the United States. One way Save the Children is addressing this gap is through a community emergency preparedness program focused on children's needs.
Our pilot site for this program is Tulsa, Oklahoma, a flood- and tornado-prone community that is recognized nationally for its innovative emergency mitigation programs. In Tulsa, Save the Children is working with Tulsa Partners, Inc. to implement a comprehensive program that focuses on preparedness at three levels:
- Children and caregivers: To help children and caregivers ready themselves for disasters and build resilience, we offer specially-designed emergency preparedness workshops. Children's workshops center on a discussion of safety and aim to help children establish a sense of control. At the end of each workshop, each child receives a backpack filled with evacuation supplies. Adult workshops focus on how caregivers can support children and care for themselves.
- Child care centers: We are working with child care facilities to help enhance their emergency preparedness plans and explore ways to make their facilities safer in disasters.
- Community: Tulsa's emergency management agency will create an emergency planning document focused on children's needs, using Save the Children's guide for emergency planners and with support from Save the Children and Tulsa Partners. In addition, Save the Children has trained the local American Red Cross chapter in our Safe Spaces program, through which we create safe, designated play areas for children in emergency evacuation shelters.
Learn more about Save the Children's U.S. Emergency Programs
