TFK talks to FEMA about how kids can prepare for natural disasters
TFK talks to FEMA about how kids can prepare for natural disasters
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that all families have an emergency supply kit.
Natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods can happen at any time. That is why it is important for people to be prepared and know what to do if a disaster occurs.
“We know that if people think ahead about what can happen, then they will be better prepared,” W. Craig Fugate told TFK. Fugate is the Administrator of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
FEMA is a government group that helps people who have been in a natural disaster. It also teaches people how to stay safe before, during, and after a disaster.
Kids Can Help
Kids can play an important part in helping their families prepare for a disaster, according to Fugate. “The first thing you should do is ask your parents what the plan is if a disaster happens while you are at home, and also when you are not at home,” he says.
FEMA has a website for kids at ready.gov/kids. Here are a few tips from the site about how families can prepare for a natural disaster.
· Pick the same person for each family member to call or email.
· Choose a meeting spot near your home, then practice getting there. Also, choose a spot outside of your neighborhood in case you can’t get home.
· Keep your family’s contact info and meeting-spot location in your backpack or wallet, or taped inside a school notebook. Put it in your cell phone if you have one.
FEMA also recommends that all families have an emergency supply kit. The supply kit should include first-aid items, non-perishable food, flashlights, water, extra batteries, sleeping bags or warm blankets, a battery-powered radio, extra batteries, and a whistle. The kit should also be based on your family’s needs, Fugate told TFK. For example, if your family has a pet, then you want to have supplies for your pet also.
For kids who want to learn about natural disasters, the ready.gov/kids website includes information about different types of disasters and why they occur. It explains floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes, earthquakes, wildfires, and drought.
FEMA also has annual events such as America’s PreparAthon and The Great Shakeout where people can practice their responses to specific disasters. During The Great Shakeout, participants practice “drop, cover, and hold on,” to simulate what they would do in the event of an earthquake.
“It’s important to talk about disasters, and how to get ready for them,” Fugate says.