Early Childhood Disaster-Related Resources for Early Childhood Education Providers

Natural and man-made disasters can happen anywhere and at any time. Emergency preparedness at work, at home, and in the community is everyone's responsibility.

Millions of young children are in early childhood centers or homes on a daily basis. Making sure you are ready to keep yourself and the children in your care safe when a disaster strikes is of upmost importance. As a trusted and loved figure in children’s lives, you are also on the front lines of helping children recover and heal after disasters.

These resources can help you and your program with disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Preparedness  |  Response  |  Recovery

Featured Resources     

 Preparedness for Early Childhood Education Providers

• Child Care Resources for Disasters and Emergencies from the ACF Office of Child Care.
• Emergency Preparedness Resources  for Head Start Facilities
• Emergency Preparedness Resources for Schools and Childcare Centers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Preparedness for Child Care Providers , a free online course developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
• Sample Childcare Emergency Action Plan  (PDF) from FEMA

Response for Early Childhood Education Providers

• Natural Disasters and Head Start Facilities  from the Office of Head Start.
• Resources for Early Childhood Trauma from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN).
• Disaster-Specific Resources to help respond to children's needs after a disaster:
  • Earthquakes
  • Extreme Heat
  • Floods
  • Hurricanes
  • Tornadoes
  • Tsunamis
  • Wildfires
  • Winter Storms
• Interactive Activities for Kids! Check out NCTSN's resources:
  • Trinka and Sam: The Rainy Windy Day  (PDF) (Spanish  (PDF))
  • Trinka and Sam: The Day the Earth Shook  (PDF) (Spanish ) (Japanese  (PDF))
• Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies , a dynamic database of resources relevant to education in emergencies from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
• Early Child Development in Emergencies , resources from UNICEF to help support caregivers in preparing for and responding to disasters.

Recovery for Early Childhood Education Providers

• Child Care Resources for Disasters and Emergencies from the Office of Child Care.
  • Additional resources for Emergency Preparedness Resources for Grantees and Child Care Providers (EPRR)
  • Resources for Child Care Providers
• The Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation , provides resources for caretakers and families on promoting social-emotional health in young children.
• Back to School Resources for School Personnel , a collection of resources compiled by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) that highlight issues related to trauma, including how it affects children and how schools can support students and families who have been impacted by trauma.
  • Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students After an Earthquake
  • Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students After a Hurricane  (PDF)
  • Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students After a Tornado  (PDF)
• The Psychological and Behavioral Psychological and Behavioral Impact of Trauma: Preschool Children resource from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NTCSN).
• Psychological First Aid Manual , a resource from NCTSN to assist children, adults, and families in the aftermath of disaster and terrorism. The manual is available in English, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese. (The manual is available in English, Spanish, Japanese, and Chinese).
• Unaccompanied Minors Registry (UMR) , administered by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) , supports the ability to collect, store, report, and act on information related to children missing or lost as a result of a disaster.
• Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health  from ZERO TO THREE.
• Coping with Disasters , a collection of resources from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
• How to Support Your Child’s Resilience in a Time of Crisis , a collection of tips for parents and caregivers on communicating with children about terrorism and other disasters from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
• School Safety and Crisis Resources , materials from the National Association of School Psychologists.
  • Resources for helping children after a disaster

ACF Office of Head Start | ACF Office of Child Care | ASPR  | FEMA  | HRSA  | SAMHSA  | OCS' Disaster Flexibility Hub  

Save the Children  | American Red Cross