This guide builds on best practices from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other leading agencies. It also complements the Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs, ensuring you have all the necessary tools at your fingertips.
What natural disasters could impact your program?
This interactive guide covers eight types of natural disasters, providing valuable insights and strategies to help you maintain resilient facilities and implement emergency response systems.
- Earthquake: Understand the risks associated with earthquakes, even in areas prone to smaller tremors. Learn about building codes and necessary precautions to secure your facility.
- Flood: Riverine or Coastal: Prepare for rising water from various sources, including storm surges and melting snow. Find out how to mitigate flood risks and protect your facility.
- Hurricane: From the Gulf of Mexico to the Eastern Seaboard, hurricanes pose significant risks. Learn how to assess your facility's strengths and vulnerabilities in the face of these massive storms.
- Tornado and Hail: Tornadoes can occur anywhere, but they are most prevalent in the Midwest, Central Plains, and Southeastern U.S. Learn about tornado formation, their devastating potential, and effective response measures.
- Tsunami: If you are located in coastal areas, Alaska, Hawaii, or the Pacific rim, tsunamis are a concern. Find out how to identify warning signs and develop evacuation plans to get to higher ground.
- Volcano: Understand the risks associated with dormant volcanoes, which can erupt unexpectedly. Prepare for hazards such as blast effects, mudflows, and ash falls.
- Wildfire: Recent years have seen a rise in destructive wildfires. Learn how to respond to fast-moving blazes, follow responder advice, and ensure the safety of everyone at your facility.
- Winter Storm: Severe winter storms require special preparations, especially in terms of insulation and power loss. Discover how to keep your facility habitable during extreme snowfall and freezing temperatures.
How can your program use this guide?
The features below help programs adapt this responsive training tool to address their individual needs.
- Workbook Style: This interactive format allows you to compile reports and tailor activities to suit your program’s specific needs using worksheets, lists, and activities that facilitate hands-on learning and the point-of-use application of essential information.
- User-friendly Features: Instructional videos and graphics aid comprehension and guide the implementation of foundational protocols and procedures. Electronically fillable PDFs support personnel in creating and tracking forms and maintaining program-specific contacts. Embedded links connect you to government agencies and online resources, offering maps, fact sheets, and other tools to inform your planning process.
- Comprehensive Planning: With the Head Start director at the helm, this guide outlines the entire planning, preparation, response, and recovery process. Learn how to assign key tasks and duties to staff members and form a dedicated disaster management team that guides your facility through all stages of disaster management.
- Community Collaboration: Engage a diverse range of individuals from your community in the disaster management team. Tap into the expertise of staff, families, volunteers, and local, regional, and national emergency response professionals. Establish essential contacts and service agreements in the planning stage to ensure seamless coordination during a crisis.
Tools and Resources
Watch the Resilient Facilities video series to learn how to establish facilities that prioritize the safety of children and staff and ensure the prompt resumption of Head Start program services.
Check out these short videos, clipped from a related webinar, to hear from experts about how to assess the risks specific to your area and gain access to helpful resources and information.