• Behavioral Issues
• Child Care
• Cleaning Up After a Storm
• Communication
• Deciding To Stay Or Go
• Evacuation Shelters
• First Aid & Medical
• Flood Center
• Food and Water
• Help the Relief Effort
• Insurance Center
• Lighting & Power
• Pet Care
• Preparing Your Home
• Special Needs
• Storms Explained

Home > Communication > Article

Small TextMedium TextLarge Text

---

Your Child Care Facility's Disaster Plan

Many Americans use a child care facility, but many aren't aware of the facility’s plans for disaster. Child care facilities are required to have disaster plans in tact, and you should find out what they are before an emergency happens.

• Ask childcare providers what their emergency preparedness plan is, and ask for a copy of it.
  If they do not have one, ask them when they will. They should have one already created.
• Ask if personnel have received adequate training to deal with children’s physical and emotional needs after a disaster.
• See how vital records of children are kept and made available during a disaster. It is wise to have a copy of these.
• Check to see if children have been educated by personnel on what to do during an emergency.
• You may want to see if you can sit in during test drills or participate in them.
• Check if the facility has a disaster supply kit.
• Make sure that state and local emergency management agencies know about the child care provider and where it is located.
• Offer to help the child care provider after a disaster.
• You can volunteer to set up a “phone tree” of parents to make calls during or after a disaster.
• Discover how you will be notified about the facility’s plan to reopen after disaster strikes. See if there is a phone number, website, or other way of communication to check if the facility has reopened. Should you contact them, or will they contact you?
• After a disaster, make sure that the child care provider is aware of any specific needs that your child has.