| Preparing for disaster can be tricky business when | | | | 4. Prepare your family for an emergency. It helps |
| it comes to educating children for something that | | | | the family accept the fact that emergencies do |
| may never happen. | | | | happen, but you can do something about it. When |
| With the convenience of technology, exposure to | | | | your kids know you are prepared, they will be |
| witnessing the effects of an emergency or | | | | less concerned. |
| disaster is much more readily accessible to our | | | | 5. Allow your kids to be part of designing the |
| children than it was several years ago. | | | | emergency preparedness plan. Have a |
| Graphic photos and video that come across our | | | | communication strategy with telephone numbers |
| television screens immediately following a tragedy | | | | so they will know who to contact. |
| can cause concern for our kids. | | | | Discuss the safety rules and decide where you will |
| What can you do to assure your children so they | | | | meet in case you are separated. Practice the plan. |
| feel safe now, and yet be prepared for disaster, | | | | This will help you determine the "holes" in the plan |
| in case it should happen? | | | | so your can make revisions. |
| 1. Limit the amount of media your kids are | | | | 6. Assemble a disaster kit that will aid you in case |
| exposed to during a calamity in another area, | | | | you have to leave your home in a hurry. It's |
| especially young children. Watching the event over | | | | suggested the kit should supply very basic needs, |
| and over may cause them to believe the event is | | | | such as food, water and protection for at least |
| occurring again and again. | | | | 72 hours. Planning for 84 hours is even better. |
| 2. Answer their questions truthfully. However, | | | | 7. Store enough food and water in your home to |
| explain and use vocabulary that is age appropriate. | | | | last from 3 to 7 days, in case you have to |
| Avoid over burdening them with too much | | | | remain in your home during the emergency. Light, |
| information and graphic details. | | | | cooking and heat sources will be necessary also, in |
| 3. Get informed about the type of disaster that | | | | case electricity is not available for an extended |
| would most likely occur in your area. Check to | | | | period of time. |
| see what emergency preparations your city, | | | | 8. Involved your children in gathering supplies and |
| county and state have made toward disaster | | | | putting your emergency reserves together. |
| planning. However, don't expect them to come to | | | | Participation will give them a sense of control. |
| your aid immediately. Often it's three to seven | | | | They will actually cope better during a disaster, if |
| days before emergency services are able to | | | | one were to happen. |
| offer assistance. | | | | |