While it is true that we cannot be prepared for everything, thinking ahead and planning can alleviate many, if not all, of the consequences of a disaster. Knowing that there is a plan can help family members better manage the stress that comes during these times.

General family preparedness

Creating a family plan (and a family communication plan)

Deciding to stay or go

Family disaster planning 

How families with children can prepare for disaster

Disaster preparedness for people with disabilities

Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness

Caring for your family during disasters: Being prepared (includes Spanish version)

Disaster-specific preparation

Home fire safety

Earthquakes: Background information

Floods: Background information

Tornadoes: Background information

Winter storms: Background information

Being ready for a terrorist attack:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Children are affected differently according to their individual differences by disasters and other stressful events. The effects of disaster on children who are directly exposed to danger and trauma are different from those of children who witnessed but did not directly experience traumatic events. Differences in age, experience, maturity level, and personality, for example, lead to varying reactions to the same incident. With knowledge about how children may react, parents and other adults can feel more confident about talking with children and responding to their needs in ways that better enable children to cope and recover.

The impact of disasters on children

Facts for families about post-hurricane coping (includes Spanish version)

Helping children and adolescents cope with violence and disaster

Helping children handle disaster-related anxiety

Managing strong emotional reactions to traumatic events

Helping children cope after a disaster

Talking to children about tough times

Children may experience long term effects of disaster

Children and disaster: Part 1 - Ages and Stages (includes Spanish version)

Children and disaster: Part 2 - What parents and caregivers can say and do (includes Spanish version)

Studies have found that parents own levels of functioning and their relationships with each other can be a buffer against the negative impact that disasters have on children. Thus, it is important that parenting partners pay attention to each other's needs and their own individual needs as well as those of their children.

Helping families during times of stress - from the Children Youth and Families Education Resource Network's Parent/Family Editorial board workshop - various resources

Emotional recovery after a disaster  

Media violence: TV, news, and media

Helping children cope with crisis: A workbook for African American families

Caring for yourself as a parent or caregiver in times of disaster (includes Span.version)

Parenting and terrorism:

Parenting in the wake of terrorism

Helping families and children cope with terrorism and disasters: various links

Resources for talking to your children about terrorism - links to sites for children of all ages

Resources for parents, teachers, and family support professionals in times of war

Supporting children during war and armed conflict (includes Span.version)

Loss and grieving:

After people experience loss, the grieving process begins. People grieve in different ways. Understanding differences in grieving can be helpful as your family adjusts to the changes disaster brings.

Helping children through grief

Information and activity pages that are fun and kid friendly.

Disaster preparedness online coloring book for kids

Tornadoes: Information for children

Resources for Teachers and Other Professionals:

Links to resources on the web for teachers

Guide for teachers: (What children may experience, children's response to disaster, implications for teachers, what teachers can do, and additional resources)

School activities for children

Bibliography of children's books on natural disasters: (K-12)

Culturally competent crisis response

For psychologists: fostering resilience after terrorism

Resources for pediatricians/health professionals