Emergency Preparedness for Families with Children with Special Needs in Washington State

The resource guides families through steps to plan for emergencies and offers practical tips.

Preparing Your Family for Disasters

Parent Central Express
Issue #13, September 2006

No one wants to think the worst or have to plan for the “WHAT IFs” of life.  “What if there were a tornado, what would I do? “What if my town has to be evacuated; is my family ready?” 

Unfortunately, these are questions we all must ask ourselves to be prepared for the facts of life as we now know them. 

Every region of the country has a history of potential weather-related problems.  They could be floods, hurricanes, wild fires, tornadoes, or some act of Mother Nature that has caused great damage.  Other types of disasters that we hardly could imagine just a few years ago, such as chemical spills and terrorist attacks are now real threats as well.  All of these are scary.  Being prepared as much as possible ahead of time can help.

You will need to develop a family emergency/disaster plan.  Involve all of your able family members and other persons directly involved in your plan.

Questions to Ask Yourself and Answer for Your Plan

• What disasters or emergencies are “most likely”?
• Which agencies are responsible for your local disaster or emergency plans?
• Who will you need to call, do you have those numbers?
• What are your escape routes?
• If separated, where will you meet?
• Do you have your and your family’s vital information and records together?
• Does everyone in your family know what to do?
• What supplies do you need? Do you have a supply kit ready?

Carrying Out the Plan

• Make the supply kit

• Develop a checklist

• Practice drills or meetings

With the help of your family, friends and other essential people in your family’s lives, make your disaster plan.

 Talking with Your Children and Family

It is important that you talk with your older children about being prepared for emergencies. Do so without alarming them.  But the more you talk about it in a calm manner, and do practice drills, the more natural it will seem.  If an emergency does come up, your children won’t be as scared and will know what to do. 

With smaller children, just make sure you take into account how you will get them out of the home or how you will make sure you will take care of them while doing the other things in your disaster plan. 

Thinking about disasters is not pleasant.  But it is necessary.  Keeping your children and family as safe as possible requires planning. There is plenty of emergency preparedness information available.  Every state has an emergency management office as part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Many organizations provide excellent and in-depth resources for families about how to prepare for disasters. 

For more information and resources go to: http://www.naccrra.org/parent/coping/disaster.php