Disaster Preparedness Tips for Parents

Joi, an 8-year-old from Joplin sits in a shelter after a tornado destroyed her home. She and her parents survived by huddling in their bathtub. Photo credit: Bruce Stidham

Families across America have been hard hit by disasters in 2011. From floods and tornadoes in the South and wildfires in the West, parents and their children have had to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Having witnessed the terrible impact of disasters—from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to the recent Joplin tornadoes—we want to do whatever we can to spare girls and boys from tragedy.

The U.S. 2011 Hurricane Season is projected to worsen as summer heat creates ideal conditions for the life-threatening storms.

“While we never know exactly when natural disasters will strike, we do know how to help parents prepare and keep their kids safe,” says Jeanne-Aimee De Marrais, a Save the Children disaster relief expert.

“As we get deeper into hurricane season, we can’t urge families strongly enough to get ready. The time to create a family emergency plan is now.”

In addition to the basic emergency kits that include survival items such as water, a flashlight and a battery-powered radio, families need to put kid-friendly supplies and plans on the list.

Save the Children Disaster Checklist for Families 

• Comfort Items: stuffed animal, doll, pacifier or blanket
• Personal Hygiene: baby wipes, feminine products, diapers, nursing pads
• Children’s Activities: books, puzzles, games
• Infant Nutrition: nursing supplies, formula, pre-packaged baby food
• Medical needs: infant/child fever reducer, rash ointment
• Family meet-up: Pick a safe spot to meet if separated such as a local school or library
• Out-of-towner: A family contact who would not be affected by a local disaster
• ICE: Cell phones should have "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) programmed into their contacts
• Text: Text messages can often get through, even when a phone call can’t
• Contact school or day care: Ensure they know what your child is supposed to do in case of an emergency

Save the Children’s extensive experience on the ground during countless disasters around the world has proven that preparedness can make a real difference.

You can help Save the Children USA be prepared, and contribute to our efforts to support your American neighbors in need during their darkest hours. When disaster strikes, chaos reigns and it is not always immediately clear what help will be needed or how much. But we do know, no matter what, disasters will continue to strike American communities – and we will be ready to help. We need your support to help us prepare. By contributing to the U.S. Emergencies Fund, you enable us to serve children through disaster planning, preparedness, response and recovery work.

Help Save the Children USA be prepared for the next disaster

Since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, Save the Children had emerged as the national leader for ensuring children’s wellbeing in domestic emergencies by working to reduce disasters’ impact on children through preparedness, response, recovery and advocacy work. More than 200,000 children and caregivers have been helped since 2005.