Kids

Kids can be a valuable part of the planning process when getting the family ready for emergencies.

Make a Plan

When making a plan, discuss it with the whole family. Show everyone what to do, and then practice doing it at least twice a year. After each time you practice the plan, bring everyone together to talk about how it went, what questions they had, and what can be done better. If you change the plan after the conversation, make sure everyone knows about how the plan changed. 

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Make a Kit

Even young kids can participate in packing an emergency kit. This is a good time to talk about disasters, and answer questions about how to stay safe during a scary situation. 

Be sure to include age-appropriate entertainment and comfort-items. There may be long periods where your family is waiting, and these items would be helpful during those times. 

Be Informed

During stressful situations, kids may forget important information, such as the first name of a parent or legal guardian, what their phone number is, or other key identifying information.

Consider equipping your child with an identification bracelet, necklace, shoe ID, or other such item with the child's name, birthday, your name, and at least one phone number. 

Every child's emergency kit should have a list of names, each person's relationship to the child, and phone numbers as well as a current family photo from within the last 6 months (switch this out when you switch out winter vs summer clothing). These items should be in a plastic bag that can be tightly sealed to prevent water from damaging the paper. 

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