importance of family preparedness essay

Disasters and Your Family: Be Prepared

By: Claire McCarthy, MD, FAAP & Scott Needle, MD, FAAP

Nobody likes to think about disasters affecting our communities. But whether its hurricanes , wildfires , tornados , or other disasters, thinking about it is exactly what we need to do. Preparation makes all the difference; it can literally save lives.

Children and families can prepare together. Disasters can be scary, but being ready is one way to be less afraid!

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10 ways to prepare your family for disasters.

Here are some simple and important things you can do with your family:

Talk to your children about disasters that might happen—and what they should do.

Know where to get reliable news and information about weather and disasters. Arrange a few different ways to receive alerts, such as texts.

Teach children the basics about what to do in a fire , such as getting low to avoid smoke or feeling doorknobs for heat before opening them. Have a fire escape plan.

If you live in an area affected by hurricanes , tornadoes, wildfires or earthquakes , talk with children about how to recognize the signs and where they should go.

Make sure children know how to call 911 and can give their name and address. Even very young children can learn this.

Decide on a person (preferably not a local person who might be affected by the same disaster) that everyone can contact if you are separated.

Have a meeting place outside the house where family members can go if you are separated and can't reach each other.

Practice! That is the best way to be sure the information sticks. Have fire drills and drills for other possible disasters where you live. If you have young children, try making it a game—they will be less scared and more willing to practice regularly.

Plan for where you would go if you had to evacuate. If you have pets, make sure the place you are going will accept them.

If you plan to purchase a generator for extended power outages after disasters, be sure to learn about steps to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning

Put together a family disaster kit

Having basic supplies is key if there is a disaster. In the heat of the moment, though, you may not have the time, or presence of mind, to gather them. So, do it ahead of time. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have great information on items to pack, but here are some ideas to get you started:

A first-aid kit

Water (2 gallons per day per person)

Flashlights, batteries, chargers

A battery-operated radio

Non-perishable foods, such as canned foods (include a can opener), granola bars and peanut butter

Cups and utensils (you can pick up some inexpensive camping kits)

Spare clothes, and a blanket or two

Toys or games

Supplies for pets

Medications—if you can, try to stay ahead of your refills and keep one in the disaster kit . At the very least, take a picture of the bottle so that you know exactly what you take.

Tip: It's not always possible to keep things like current medications stored away , so make a checklist of everything you might need to grab quickly. You can tape the list to the top of the container, which should be a manageable size (you may need a couple of them) and in a readily accessible place in your house.

Involve your children in planning and packing—you can make it a game by doing a scavenger hunt. Remember to check expiration dates and have kids help with remembering and doing that, too. The more you make it something regular and ordinary, the better.

Hopefully, your emergency preparations will never be more than a game. But should a disaster ever hit, they will be the most important game your family ever played.

More information

• Hurricanes & Floods: Taking Care of Your Children and Yourself
• Flash Flood Recovery: Information for Families
• Hurricane Preparedness: Tips for Families
• Winter Storm Disasters: Facts for Families
• Disaster Preparedness Resources for Families (AAP.org)

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Creating a family emergency preparedness plan.

• Mercy Corps

Preparing for emergency situations can be overwhelming — but it’s also an important way to protect yourself and your family. When you know about the risks and hazards in your area, you can plan for them with awareness and forethought and have the appropriate supplies ready if and when they happen.

Recognized as a leader in delivering rapid, lifesaving aid to hard-hit communities, we have responded to numerous disasters, including the 2018 earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, the 2017 Horn of Africa drought and hunger crisis, and the 2015 Nepal earthquakes.

We know firsthand that emergencies can change everything in an instant.

In case of a serious emergency, emergency responders will be overwhelmed and unable to help for some time — possibly weeks. Your neighborhood may find itself stranded and isolated by fallen infrastructure. Those who aren’t prepared will face a harder time and could be a liability to neighbors.

This guide can help you prepare for many of the kinds of emergencies we respond to: power outages, violent storms, flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, and more.

Building a communication and action plan

Stocking an emergency preparedness kit and emergency supplies Water Non-perishable food First aid Prescription medicine To-go emergency kit list Legal documents Pet safety Preparing your home for an emergency Have alternative sanitation Shut off utilities Secure furniture Insure your home How Mercy Corps responds to and prepares people for emergencies

Preparing for an emergency is about more than assembling supplies. One of the most important steps is making a plan with your family.

You’ll want to communicate with your loved ones so everyone knows what each person is going to do in the event of an emergency.

Everyone should know where your family will meet. Most people choose their home as their primary meeting place. You should also have a second place in mind as an alternate. It’s possible homes won’t be safe to enter. The area around your home may not be safe due to fire, poor air quality, or other hazards.

Consider the following. Where will you go immediately if the emergency:

Happens at home Happens while you are at work and the kids are at school Happens while you’re running errands Happens while you’re commuting

It’s also important to plan what you’ll do if members of your family are in different places when the earthquake hits:

Where will you meet each other? Who will be in charge of picking up your kids from school? Who is your emergency contact outside of your immediate location?

Make sure everyone in your family is aware of the plan, including where children should go and who will pick them up. Print copies and place them in your most frequented locations.

For the days after the disaster, you will also want to consider:

Where will you go if your home is no longer habitable? Where are your important documents and contact information? How will you evacuate, if needed?

Making a family plan and practicing it doesn’t have to be scary. You can make it a fun family event. This kind of practice is important because it gives your family the muscle-memory they need to be prepared in a variety of contexts. They might feel confident doing drills at school, but what about at home?

None of these preparedness actions cost money. The main cost is your time. This kind of planning is important not just for a big emergency, but also for more common emergencies, like home fires.

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Stocking an emergency preparedness kit and emergency supplies

Mercy Corps delivered relief kits in Kavresthali, Nepal. The kits included a tarp, sleeping mat, blanket, water purification drops, soap and other basic items. PHOTO: Miguel Samper for Mercy Corps

Emergency supplies are an essential part of a preparedness plan. You can assess your supply needs by thinking about where you spend extended periods of time. If you work outside the home, you might wish to have a home kit, a work kit, and even a commuting kit.

We recommend keeping your at-home emergency supplies together in a durable container with a lid. Organize your supplies in a safe and protected, easily-accessible area. Your kit should contain items to help you provide for your family for two weeks. Don’t “poach” supplies for other purposes, but do review them every six months, including expiration dates, to ensure safety.

You can keep an office go-bag under your desk at work. It should be something you can carry with you, containing items to help you survive, whether you’re trying to get home or staying where you are. Many people also keep a commuter kit in their cars, or in a bag they carry on transit or on their bikes.

As you assemble your emergency supplies, consider what items you may already have, such as camping gear, your kitchen pantry, or first aid supplies in your medicine cabinet. Just make sure you know where the necessary items are, and ask yourself, “Where are the gaps?”

Essential preparedness supplies are water, non-perishable food, and first aid. The following are considerations for the contents of your emergency kits.

Water Non-perishable food First aid Prescription medicine To-go emergency kit list Legal documents Pet safety Water

Water is the most essential element to survival, and a necessary item in every emergency kit. Following a disaster, clean drinking water may not be available. Your regular water source could be cut off or compromised through contamination.

In your home, plan to store at least one gallon of water per person per day for about 14 days. One gallon should cover drinking and sanitation. Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more. A medical emergency might require even more.

You can purchase commercially bottled water for the safest and most reliable emergency water supply. Store your water in a cool, dark place. Keep bottled water in its original containers and do not open until you need to use it. Observe expiration dates. Replace your water supply about once every six months.

For to-go kits, consider using light-weight water packets or a water purifier to supplement small water bottles.

Non-perishable food

A Mercy Corps team member distributing cooked food. Following Hurricane Maria, Mercy Corps is supporting relief and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. PHOTO: Ernesto Robles for Mercy Corps

Buy food you’d normally eat. Store enough to last two weeks per person. Stock up on canned foods, packets, dry mixes and other staples for your home. Emergency foods should not require refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation.

Remember any special dietary needs. Avoid foods that make you thirsty. Choose salt-free crackers, whole grain cereals and canned foods with high liquid content. Here are some other food ideas:

Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables Protein or fruit bars Dry cereal or granola Powdered milk Peanut butter Dried fruit and nuts Crackers Canned juices Food for infants and children Spices Don’t forget utensils, plates, cups and a can opener!

A note about cooking without power: alternative cooking sources may be used in an emergency, such as chafing dishes, fondue pots and camping stoves. Depending on the severity of the emergency, your gas grill might be available. Remember to follow safety procedures, and never barbecue indoors.

If you’re cooking canned food with an alternative cooking source, remember to remove the label, thoroughly wash the can and open it before heating.

Your first aid supplies should be capable of dealing with moderate injuries, if possible. You might want to have enough supplies to treat multiple people.

Ideally, your first aid supplies would include:

Dressings Bandages Burn gel Splints Antiseptic

Since disaster responders may not be available, you may need to be able to treat more than the common cuts, scraps and burns.

Prescription medicine

Talk with your doctor about how to make sure you have enough prescription medications for at least a month, if possible. Keep your prescriptions current. Your doctor may be willing to write you an extra prescription for a disaster kit. Also keep in mind prescription expiration dates.

At the very least, make sure any necessary medications are easy to locate and grab in case of a sudden evacuation.

To-go emergency kit list

Members of Mercy Corps and the Zakat Foundation distributed solar lights and water filters to residents of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. PHOTO: J. Jimenez-Tirado for Mercy Corps

Keep a to-go kit in a backpack or satchel near an exit. Your to-go kit may also be used if you are at home. These are some items you might want to include:

Additional water packets, bottled water, or water purifiers Non-perishable, easy-to-carry food, such as meat packets, protein and fruit bars A mess kit with utensils, plate, cup and a can-opener Necessary medications, vitamins and first-aid supplies Prescription glasses and sunglasses Cash Pens & notebook Battery-powered or hand-crank radio Flashlight Batteries Solar phone-charger; car-battery phone charger Whistle or alarm to signal for help Lighter, or matches in a waterproof container Feminine supplies Personal hygiene, including toothbrush, toothpaste Toilet-in-a-Bag Moist towelettes. Dental floss – it has many uses! Clothing, including changes in underwear, hat, gloves Pet supplies and food Legal documents Tools: wrench, pliers Dust mask to help filter contaminated air Sleeping bag, blanket, bedding Complete change of clothes including long sleeved shirt, long pants, sturdy shoes Garbage bags A fun kit, including books, games, puzzles, cards, crayons, paper Legal documents

To help you think about what documents you may need access to, FEMA provides a checklist on its website, called the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK).

At a minimum, you should consider having photocopies of:

Identification, including birth certificates, social security card, citizenship papers Financial documents, including credit card and banking information Legal documents, including estate planning documents, property deeds, mortgage documentation, car titles Medical information, including health and life insurance policies, healthcare provider information Household contacts Pet safety Your pets will depend on you in case of a disaster, so think about them in advance.

The first step in a pet safety plan is to make sure your pets are properly identified. Does your pet have a license or ID tag? A microchip recommended by the ASPCA and can be read at most animal shelters.

Alternate care arrangements may be necessary for your pets. Arrange a safe haven: don’t leave your pets behind. Keep a list with several alternatives. Include phone numbers of alternate sites.

A designated caregiver is recommended in case an emergency occurs while pets are home alone. Perhaps you have a stay-at-home neighbor who is familiar and friendly with your pet. Do they have a key to access your home to provide care? You may wish to let them know what you’re thinking and provide orientation.

Include pet supplies in your family’s emergency kits, or make a specific kit for your pet. A good pet safety kit would be easy to carry, labeled, and easily accessible near a likely exit. Make sure everyone in your family knows where it is, including alternate caregivers.

What to include:

About one ounce of bottled water per pound per day Canned or dry food to last a week or more. Remember to rotate food and water periodically. Can opener Serving knife Bowls with lids Pet carrier Label with your pet’s name and your contact information Cage liner Pet first-aid kit and guidebook Medications in waterproof container Photocopies of medical records Photocopies of vaccination records Recent photos of your pets List of feeding habits, medical concerns, and behavioral issues Disposable dog scoop bags or disposable litter trays. You can use soil or sand in place of litter. Disinfectant Grooming supplies

Preparing your home for an emergency

Beyond having your supplies ready at home, it’s also important to consider other areas that might be affected by a disaster.

Have alternative sanitation Shut off utilities Secure furniture Insure your home Have alternative sanitation

During some emergencies, it’s unlikely that toilets will be operable. You can use the two-bucket method with camping toilet seats and sawdust for an alternate toilet, or purchase toilet-in-a-bag solutions to keep with your supplies.

Shut off utilities

Your utilities could be affected by some disaster situations. This is why you should know how to shut off your utilities — gas, water, and electricity. If you live in a house, make sure you and others in your household know how to do this.

Make sure you know where your home’s gas shut-off valve is. Keep a wrench by the gas valve so you will have it handy in an emergency.

If you’re in an apartment or condominium, make sure you know who would be in charge of this. It’s generally recommended that if you don’t smell gas, you don’t need to turn it off. But since we’ll have aftershocks and the situation may change, keep checking as long as it’s safe to do so. Apartment or condominium dwellers should manage gas systems for their own units only. DO NOT manipulate shared building systems.

Secure furniture

Secure tall or heavy furniture to walls to prevent it from falling during an earthquake. Falling furniture can cause injury or death, and can also block exit routes. Even without the threat of an earthquake, tall furniture should be secured for child safety. Tall appliances (refrigerators, washer/dryers) can also be secured to prevent movement during an earthquake. Furniture and appliances may be secured using furniture straps or other securing devices.

Insure your home

Only you can determine your risk tolerance and what kind of insurance coverage is right for you. Consult your insurance agent to determine what’s available to suit your needs.

How Mercy Corps responds to and prepares people for emergencies

Around the world, 160 million people per year are affected by some type of natural disaster.

In these emergency situations, people need immediate access to food, water and other basic necessities. Once recovery begins, they often need access to jobs or other activities and functional markets where they can buy and sell goods.

We help provide both.

Our responses start with meeting the most urgent needs. Lack of clean water and poor sanitary conditions are a major threat to people in emergencies. We often provide water, sanitation and hygiene support, which helps save lives and preserve health.

When possible, we choose cash-based assistance in emergency response in order to empower people to buy what they need most. We also help ensure access to adequate and safe food, since that is one of the most critical needs in an emergency.

As time passes, we focus on helping people build resilience to future emergencies. Often, that means helping build back markets where people can buy and sell goods. We also explore how we can get people back to work.

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The Importance of a Family Emergency Plan

By Dave Plunkett

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As the evening news and twitter feeds tell us, we’re all about to live on a planet with unbreathable air; undrinkable water (when you can Replace it); inedible food; and weather that makes guessing what to wear a real challenge on a daily basis. The bottom line, the world is changing and you’ve got to prepare your family for the worst.

The road to proper preparation is paved with half-truths and political points of view. The main thing to remember is that you are preparing for immediate emergencies, so base your food storage plan on diversity and ease of preparation. But before you begin making an investment in survival food supplies and gear, you need to start with the creation of your family emergency plan. This plan will help you decide when an emergency situation (weather or natural disaster) forces you to decide whether to utilize a shelter in place solution or evacuate with your grab & go emergency kits.

Your family emergency plan is just that – an emergency plan so that you know regardless of the disaster, you’ll be ready and prepared to do what you need to do to survive the situation. Your FEP should cover all the major topics that come into play when a natural disaster or major storm hits your area. Basically, you need to discuss and write down the following:

• The names, birthdates and social security numbers for each member of your family.
• Your chosen meeting places – you need to pick and then list three different locations: the place you’ll meet in your neighborhood; the place you’ll meet outside of your immediate neighborhood; and finally, a place to meet should you all be out of town when a disaster strikes.
• A list of where everyone spends their weekdays – schools, work and any other places one member of your family goes to during the day should be listed, along with its address and phone number.
• Insurance & other important documents. List everyone’s drivers license numbers, passport numbers and any insurance policy you are carrying. Having your policy information at the ready will make getting any insurance settlements much easier to accomplish.
• Out of state contact(s) – you will need to decide on one or two people to use as your family’s check-in buddies. Every family member should use these numbers to call and inform them of your status should you family become separated during a storm or other disaster.
• Doctor or hospital contacts – be sure to list your family doctor’s name and number, along with the information about the nearest hospital. If applicable, include your Vet’s info as well.

To download your own Family Emergency Plan, go to FEMA’s website at: FEMA This site can not only provide the forms you need to fill out, but it also offers free of charge, a set of wallet cards your family can fill out to keep in their wallets and purses for quick reference.

Make sure to fill your family emergency food storage pantry by shopping our National Preparedness Month sale and save up to 58% on select essentials. We’re also offering FREE Shipping on all orders over $100, so get ready for winter by stocking up now.

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CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE CONTEXT OF DISASTERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

Betty pfefferbaum.

Paul and Ruth Jonas Chair; Professor and Chairman; Director, Terrorism and Disaster Center; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; College of Medicine; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Carol S. North

Nancy and Ray L. Hunt Chair in Crisis Psychiatry; Professor of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine; Director, Program in Trauma and Disaster at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Department of Psychiatry; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX

INTRODUCTION

While research and clinical experience have dramatically increased our knowledge about the emotional and behavioral effects of disasters, the focus has been primarily on individuals. In this paper, we summarize the literature on child and family adaptation to disasters, the influence of family members on one another’s disaster reactions, the effects of disasters on parenting, and the ability of parents to identify disaster reactions in their children. We include policy implications and present recommendations for preparedness and intervention and for empirical study. We conclude with general thoughts about the status of the field and the need for future research.

Families and Disasters

Families are defined by relationships—parent to parent, parent to child, and sibling to sibling in immediate families and through even more combinations in extended families. Families are characterized by their structure, roles, and boundaries; emotional bonds and responsiveness; cohesiveness; flexibility, adaptability, and coping; communication; and decision making and problem solving ( Moos & Moos, 1976 ). Families support, nurture, and protect children. This is at no time more essential than in the context of disasters.

While there are many definitions of “disaster,” common to most is an emphasis on the destruction they cause and their abrupt onset ( World Health Organization [WHO], 1992 ). McFarlane and Norris (2006 , page 4) define a disaster as “a potentially traumatic event that is collectively experienced, has an acute onset, and is time-delimited.” Others emphasize the consequences of these events and the ability of the affected community to cope with the consequences ( WHO, 1992 ). For example, the World Health Organization (1992) defines a disaster as “a severe disruption, ecological and psychosocial, which greatly exceeds the coping capacity of the affected community” ( WHO, 1992 , page 2). This means that the usual community support structures available to families may be overwhelmed following a disaster. A key aspect of disaster response involves reestablishing the pre-existing structures and creating new structures to address individual, family, and community needs.

CHILD AND FAMILY ADAPTATION TO DISASTERS

Numerous studies have documented the emotional and behavioral effects of disasters at the individual level, but little empirical research has addressed family adaptation to disasters.

Children’s Reactions

In their review of the disaster literature, Norris and colleagues (2002) identified the psychosocial effects of disasters including specific psychological problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), other anxiety disorders, and depression; non-specific distress such as stress reactions and psychosomatic symptoms; and health concerns and problems including increased smoking and drinking. Individual reactions are influenced by severity of exposure and personal characteristics, socioeconomic status, pre-disaster functioning, family factors, secondary stresses, and psychosocial resources ( Norris et al., 2002 ).

Children may be especially vulnerable to the effects of disasters ( Norris et al., 2002 ). They may be frightened by what they do not understand, and their misperceptions may lead to inaccurate interpretations and attributions. Like adults, children’s reactions are influenced by their exposure, individual characteristics inherent in the child including developmental level and cognitive capacity to understand the event and its consequences, and family and social characteristics. Not only does development shape a child’s reactions to trauma, but trauma has the potential to adversely affect the child’s development with life-long implications.

Family Adaptation

While not extensively examined, studies suggest that marital stress ( Norris & Uhl, 1993 ) and even domestic violence ( Adams & Adams, 1984 ) may follow disasters. Other studies evidence family solidarity following disasters. For example, studies of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing revealed a decrease in divorce rates ( Nakonezny et al., 2004 ) and an increase in births ( Rodgers et al., 2005 ) after the disaster. Another study revealed higher marriage and birth rates, but also higher divorce rates, in counties affected by Hurricane Hugo compared to unaffected counties ( Cohan & Cole, 2002 ) and suggested that after disasters, people may take actions in their close relationships that alter their subsequent life course. More research is needed to confirm the results in these studies, to identify the factors that motivate changes in relationships, and to explore alterations in family dynamics post-disaster.

The quality of interactions within a family and the family’s reactions are determinants of the child’s adjustment in the disaster setting ( Laor et al., 1996 , 1997 , 2001 ; McFarlane, 1987 ), yet few studies have examined adaptation to disasters on a family level. Parental symptoms and parental dysfunction create risk for distress and trauma symptoms in children ( Green et al., 1991 ; Laor et al., 1997 ; McFarlane, 1987 ). Specifically, emotional and behavioral problems ( McFarlane, 1987 ) and posttraumatic stress symptoms ( Green et al., 1991 ) in children appear to be associated with irritable, depressed, and overprotective families. In one study, consistency in reaction and mood between mother and father was also associated with the intensity of the child’s reaction ( Handford et al., 1986 ).

Laor and colleagues (1996 , 1997 , 2001 ) conducted a five-year longitudinal study of displaced and non-displaced families during SCUD missile attacks. Among the factors they studied were the mother’s response to the event and the family’s cohesion (emotional bonds among family members) and adaptability (family’s capacity to adjust the power structure, roles, and norms) (1996 (2001). Family cohesion rather than adaptability was the primary determinant of the child’s ability to withstand the stressful events ( Laor et al., 1996 ). Child adjustment problems were associated with both extremes of cohesion—suggesting that disengaged or enmeshed families may put children at risk ( Laor et al., 2001 ). Disengaged families may not help the child process the traumatic experience while enmeshed families may transmit unmodified adverse emotions from one family member to another ( Laor et al., 1996 , 2001 ).

The findings regarding family interactions and adaptation suggest that certain families may be at risk for maladjustment post-disaster, but the studies are too few in number and too diverse in methods and measurement to draw definitive conclusions about when and how to intervene. Until the research advances further, providers should assume that family dynamics may change in the face of disasters and that already troubled and newly troubled families are those most likely to be at risk for difficulties functioning in the post-disaster setting.

THE INFLUENCE OF FAMILY MEMBERS ON EACH OTHER

Family members influence one another in various ways in the aftermath of a disaster. While several family members may be exposed to an event, details of their individual exposure may vary considerably. Family members may experience distress in association with one another’s experiences.

Children’s and Parents’ Reactions

Children’s disaster reactions reflect their developmental status and thus may differ from those of adults, but it is well documented that children’s reactions generally parallel in degree those of their parents ( Breton et al., 1993 ; Earls et al., 1988 ; Green et al., 1991 ). Although children’s and their parents’ exposure to a disaster may be similar, children take cues from their parents about danger and safety, and children may respond to parental distress. The relationship between child and parent reactions may be especially important with respect to maternal reactions ( Winje & Ulvik, 1998 ; Green et al., 1991 ) and the reactions of younger children ( Laor et al., 1997 ; Laor et al., 2001 ; Wolmer et al., 2000 ). Stronger relationships between children’s reactions and those of their mothers, compared to those of their fathers, may reflect the traditionally prominent role of mothers in child-rearing and the relatively greater time mothers usually spend with children. Age-related associations, with a decreasing strength in the relationship between parent and child reactions as children age, may reflect the greater autonomy of children as they develop and mature ( Wolmer et al., 2000 ).

Not only do parents influence their children’s reactions, children also influence parents. Koplewicz and colleagues (2002) compared children who were in the World Trade Center at the time of the 1993 bombing and their parents to a control sample of children and parents who were affected only through their relationships with people who were directly exposed and through the media. Parents, especially those of the exposed children, reported posttraumatic stress symptoms and fears, which decreased over time. Parental distress at three months did not predict their own distress at nine months, but parental perceptions of their children’s distress at three months predicted parental distress at nine months, suggesting that longer-term distress in parents of child disaster victims is driven, in part at least, by their children’s early reactions or by their perceptions of their children’s distress ( Koplewicz et al., 2002 ).

Being the parent of a disaster survivor carries risk for a variety of conditions. Mirzamani and Bolton (2002 , 2003) studied mothers of adolescent survivors of a shipping disaster six years after the incident. These mothers waited anxiously to learn of their children’s fate and to be reunited with their children. The mothers of survivors were compared with a sample of widows and a sample of women with no history of major negative life events. The three groups did not differ on demographic variables or post-event stressful events. The mothers of survivors had a significantly higher post-event prevalence of major depression, anxiety disorder, and any psychopathology than the mothers with no history of major negative life events but a lower post-event prevalence of these disorders than widows ( Mirzamani & Bolton, 2002 ). Mothers of survivors with PTSD were more likely to develop PTSD themselves than mothers of survivors without PTSD ( Mirzamani & Bolton, 2002 , 2003 ).

Reactions of Siblings

In major natural disasters, siblings are likely to be exposed to similar experiences though this is not the case with respect to all disasters, especially human-caused and terrorist events. Children who themselves are not exposed to a disaster must nonetheless process the experiences of a traumatized sibling or peer. Terr (1979) described posttraumatic play and frightening dreams in the non-exposed siblings and other family members of kidnapped children. Applebaum and Burns (1991) found posttraumatic stress reactions in the siblings of victims of unexpected traumatic death even though the siblings had not directly witnessed the deaths. Further empirical study is needed to determine the extent and nature of these sibling behaviors, to understand the mechanisms by which these behaviors arise, and to guide intervention efforts focused on siblings in the post-disaster environment.

DISASTER EFFECTS ON PARENTING

The status of parenthood itself may confer risk in disaster settings, and the effects of disasters likely complicate the tasks of parenting.

Filial Burden

Simply being a parent appears to be associated with the level of disaster stress endorsed by people involved in traumatic events ( Gleser et al., 1981 ; Solomon et al., 1993 ). Parents, as opposed to adults without children, have the physical, economic, and emotional burden of caring for their children and they may experience distress associated with concern for their children. Therefore, it is not surprising that a survey of Manhattan residents after the 2001 World Trade Center attacks revealed greater distress in parents than in adults without children ( Stuber et al., 2002 ). Thus, it is essential that disaster response efforts address the needs of parents and families. This includes engaging parents in family disaster planning and in preparedness activities that focus on children’s reactions to disasters, prioritizing the reunification of families in the aftermath of an event, educating parents about children’s disaster-related psychosocial needs, and including parents in the care of children needing disaster mental health services post-event.

Disasters impose increased demands on parents who may be less available to their children as their attention shifts to the crisis and issues that arise in the disaster environment. In a longitudinal study of the relationship between children’s psychological problems and patterns of parental care, McFarlane (1987) found a consistent association of parenting characterized by overprotection (increased parental worry about harm coming to their children and increased need to know their children’s whereabouts) and irritable distress (family interaction characterized by irritability, fighting, emotional withdrawal, and loss of pleasure from shared activities) with emotional and behavioral problems in children at 8- and 26-month follow-up.

Noting feelings of frustration and powerlessness that accompany disasters, Curtis and colleagues (2000) studied child abuse rates in disaster-affected communities following several events. They found increased rates following some disasters but, due to a number of limitations, their study failed to establish a definitive connection between child abuse and disasters. For example, social service agencies and child protection staff may lose records and may be unable to adequately investigate cases, reporting laws may vary across time and place, and mobility and evacuation of the disaster-affected population after an event may alter rates.

Future research is needed to validate the results of these studies but even in the absence of more research, family preparedness, response, and recovery efforts should address the potential for post-disaster family conflict and maladaptive and abusive behaviors. Professionals who serve children and families in schools, social service programs, primary care, faith-based institutions, and community-based organizations should be trained in identification of abuse and factors predisposing to it and in intervention at the individual and family level. As part of preparedness, social service agencies must establish policies and procedures to report incidents of abuse, investigate cases, secure records, and coordinate services across jurisdictional lines in accordance with local and state regulations. Where they do not currently permit service coordination across jurisdictional boundaries, local and state regulations should be adopted to provide for such coordination.

THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN CARING FOR THEIR CHILDREN

Parents have an important role in disaster preparedness through individual and family disaster planning and by addressing the concerns their children experience in anticipation of disasters. Parents are also an important source of support for children in post-disaster environments. Parents may assist their children in a number of ways. They may decrease children’s exposure to secondary adversities, help children process the traumatic experience, restore routine activities, redirect children from troubling thoughts and emotions toward more productive endeavors, and limit children’s exposure to media coverage and facilitate their processing of this material ( Pfefferbaum R. et al., 2003 ; Prinstein et al., 1996 ). Professionals are needed to help parents identify and complete these tasks.

Parental Assessment of Children’s Reactions

Compared to their children’s self-reports, parents appear to underestimate children’s disaster reactions ( Earls et al., 1988 ; Handford et al., 1986 ; Koplewicz et al., 2002 ). For example, Koplewicz and colleagues (2002) found that parents of children in the World Trade Center during the 1993 bombing reported a decrease in their children’s posttraumatic stress and incident-related fears at nine months, but their children reported no decrease. Applebaum and Burns (1991) found similar results with respect to parental assessment of siblings of victims of unexpected traumatic death. It is unclear the extent to which these discrepancies between child and parent report may relate to the distress parents experience themselves in traumatic situations, to parental preoccupation with other issues, and/or to parental difficulty acknowledging the suffering of their children. Furthermore, children may be unusually compliant at these times and not fully display their distress ( McFarlane et al., 1987 ; Shaw et al., 1995 ), perhaps to avoid burdening their parents ( Mollica et al., 1997 ).

The differences between child self-report and parent-report of psychosocial issues of children after disasters raise questions about how to assess children’s adjustment. Given that parents are better at identifying externalizing symptoms and children are better at reporting internalizing symptoms, a comprehensive approach would obtain reports from both parents and children. Reports of school personnel would add a third dimension to understanding the reactions and needs of children. Ideally, information about pre-disaster emotional status and functioning would further help to interpret findings in relation to baseline measures.

Concern that parents underestimate their children’s reactions underscores the need for parent and professional education about children’s disaster reactions and for outreach efforts post-event. The issue is complicated by the importance of normalizing disaster reactions among those whose experiences are not of pathological proportions. Thus, risk communication strategies must describe the anticipated effects of disasters on children, identify reactions that suggest the need for professional attention, and inform the public about the availability of services. Locating services in venues that are accessible, such as schools, is crucial.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUDING REMARKS

We know a great deal about the reactions of individuals to disasters and we recognize the importance of families in child post-disaster adjustment, but few empirical studies have sufficiently examined the range of family issues that are necessary to inform clinical and social policy. Nonetheless, it is clear that disaster preparedness, response, and recovery should respect the essential role of families by generating services specifically designed to address their needs and their capacities to recover in the post-disaster environment.

Disaster preparedness and intervention programs should capitalize on the support that parents and families provide while acknowledging and educating families about the potential for differences in reactions of family members. Post-disaster problems in functioning among children and families should be identified and interventions provided to those in need of services. Finally, a policy agenda for family disaster mental health must address the lack of relevant findings from empirical research in the area. Family effects and the challenges of parenting are particularly difficult to study empirically in the aftermath of disasters when chaos and disruption create many pressing problems for families and may hinder research endeavors. Thus, thoughtful consideration to access to children and families in post-disaster settings, appropriate measurement tools, and methods that allow baseline and longitudinal assessment and comparison are essential to the conduct of this research.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) grant MH068853 to Carol S. North. Points of view expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of NIMH.

Contributor Information

Betty Pfefferbaum, Paul and Ruth Jonas Chair; Professor and Chairman; Director, Terrorism and Disaster Center; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; College of Medicine; University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Carol S. North, Nancy and Ray L. Hunt Chair in Crisis Psychiatry; Professor of Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine; Director, Program in Trauma and Disaster at the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Department of Psychiatry; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Dallas, TX.

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Emergency Management: What’s Your Plan? Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Steps of Personal Emergency Plan

Free preparedness programs, evacuees experiences in shelters.

The first step is to develop a disaster-preparedness plan and to practice it with the family. The plan should highlight where the members of the family should meet in case of emergency. The plan should also highlight the special needs of every member of the family. This should include stocking medications and sufficient drinking water at the meeting point. It is also important to ensure there is a form of communication at the meeting point for the family to be aware of the events in other parts of the city. The information can be vital in helping the family to be evacuated safely by the rescue teams. There should also be a clear map of the escape routes to be used in every building. The family should also have a go-bag that contains copies of the medical information of the family members, their medical prescriptions, sufficient drinking water, and some cash. Everyone in the family should know where to go to find shelter. An emergency supply kit is necessary to carry supplies of food and water for at least three days. This should provide ample time for rescue teams to get to the family. The emergency plan should be available in every place where the family members spend most of the time. For instance, there should be an emergency plan at the workplace, school, and home.

What’s your Plan?

This video is quite informative about preparedness for disasters and emergency evacuation. The video reveals that ignorance can be catastrophic for families, especially if they live in areas that are prone to natural disasters. ‘Mr. Preparedness’ reveals that people should always take a special interest in the information about possible emergencies in their cities and states. The information can have a positive impact on people’s ability to prepare an exit plan to escape from disasters. The video also reveals that people should consider the needs of the children and the elderly in the family. For instance, when the family finally made it to the evacuation center, they did not have any games or entertainment forms to keep the children engaged. The video also touches on the need to have an emergency plan known by the entire family, including the children. Additionally, there should be a plan B for emergency response.

The Red Cross has a program that looks into providing people with information on the development of an efficient emergency plan. The program highlights the various items that need to be included in the emergency plan and the procedural aspects of the response to disasters. The Citizen Preparedness Corps also has a program that provides educational courses to the citizens. The courses cover the preparation for various forms of natural disasters. Ready Citizens has a program that facilitates education in disaster preparedness for various emergencies, including fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters.

Shelters are safe points during disasters, but they might be associated with several hazards, including lack of sufficient food, exposure to harsh environmental conditions, predisposing people to contagious diseases as they get crowded in the shelters, poor hygiene, and psychological stress and trauma. Children and their parents may experience strong emotions that may lead to depression, especially if they are kept in the shelters for a long time.

• "Nova: Inside the Megastorm" Documentary
• Natural Disasters: Hurricane Sandy
• Assessment of Total Evacuation Systems for High-Rise Buildings
• Sri Lanka Flood Disaster Preparedness
• Fire and Community Evacuation in Apex, NC
• "Oklahoma's Deadliest Tornadoes" Documentary
• Tornado: "Hunt for the Super Twister" Documentary
• 1906 San Francisco Earthquake: Eyewitness Story
• Destructive Capabilities of Nature in Documentaries
• "Climate Change May Destroy Alaskan Towns" Video
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Home / Essay Samples / Environment / Natural Disasters / When Disaster Strikes: The Vital Role of Preparedness

When Disaster Strikes: The Vital Role of Preparedness

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