Individuals and Families

This page contains resources of interest to parents, caregivers, and other family members or friends. For example: How to create a family disaster plan and a checklist with questions to ask childcare providers.

The Red Cross Emergency! App features an “I’m Safe” button that allows users to post a message to their social accounts, letting friends and family know they are out of harm’s way.

CDC: Helping Children Cope With a Disaster: Children often become distressed after a disaster, especially if it has directly impacted them or someone they care about. They may also feel sad or sorry for others and want very much to help them. Worries that something similar will happen to them or their family may lead them to ask a lot of questions so that they can better understand what has happened and therefore what they can do to protect themselves and their family. Parents and other adults who care for children can do a lot to help them understand and cope.

American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children—The Getting Your Family Prepared for a Disaster webpage that provides information to assist parents.

Ready.Gov Make A Plan—Provides resources for families to assist in preparing a family emergency plan. The site includes forms for developing a family communications plan, a children's emergency contact card and more. The site contains information for families on working with schools and day care centers in planning for emergencies and a special section for children to help them understand and prepare for emergencies. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF).  The free Adobe Reader may be required to view these files.