Early childhood programs and the families they serve move through four phases in meeting emergency situations. The following graphic demonstrates the order in which each phase occurs:
If programs have the resources and systems necessary for being ready, coping during, providing basic necessities immediately after, and rebuilding in the long term, emergency situations that arise will have less of an impact on the programs and communities they affect. This page offers links to resources developed by Federal and non-profit organizations that support families, programs, and community partners in each phase of disaster.
Preparedness
Impact
Relief
Recovery
Preparedness
The preparation phase is the core of ensuring programs, families, and partners will be prepared to cope with emergencies. Lessons learned from previous emergency situations demonstrate that planning is key to surviving the worst of disasters. This section provides resources to assure plans and systems are in place to get people and facilities prepared, make life-saving decisions ahead of time, and assure that people will be able to communicate with each other if and when emergencies occur.
Programs
Families
Partners
Impact
When an emergency is taking place, people need support in coping with the stress of the situation as well as make moment-to-moment decisions to assure survival. These resources offer guidance and support to programs, families, and community partners as they are involved in an emergency situation. From assuring communication with others to coping with the decision to evacuate or shelter-in-place, these resources offer guidance, strategies, and lessons learned.
Programs
Families
Partners
Relief
In the days immediately after an emergency, people generally need the basics: food, shelter, clothing, and water. These basics may also include very simple mental health and health services to assist in dealing with any injuries or shock that may have occurred in the emergency situation. The links listed here offer programs, families, and community partners ideas and information about supporting individuals in meeting these basic needs. As days pass, these basic needs may be met, but in the immediate aftermath they are essential to people as they begin to deal with the blows dealt by the tragedy.
Programs
Families
Recovery
As time passes, people begin to rebuild their lives. Programs, families, and community partners need resources that help them resume their everyday lives including moving home, going back to work, rebuilding facilities, and resuming services. The links below offer checklists, fact sheets, articles, and lessons learned to help people start anew.
Programs
Families
Partners
