Natural Disasters: Helping Kids During Crisis

  • Try and keep routines as normal as possible. Kids gain security from the predictability of routine, including attending school.
  • Limit exposure to television and the news.

  • Be honest with kids and share with them as much information as they are developmentally able to handle.
  • Listen to kids’ fears and concerns.
  • Reassure kids that the world is a good place to be, but that there are people who do bad things.
  • Parents and adults need to first deal with and assess their own responses to crisis and stress.
  • Rebuild and reaffirm attachments and relationships.

ASCA Resources

Additional Resources

Suggested Websites

The American Psychological Association Health Center
Managing Traumatic Stress: After the Tornadoes 
Recovering from the Wildfires
Manage Flood-Related Distress by Building Resilience
Strengthening Your Emotional Well-Being Ahead of the Flood

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Finding a New Normal: Life After a Natural Disaster
Stay Safe During a Wildfire

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Tornadoes
Hurricanes
For Parents and Caregivers/Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Floods
Wildfires
Parent Guidelines for Helping Children Impacted by Wildfires
Wildfires: Tips for Parents on Media Coverage
Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents

Ready.gov: Wildfires

Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration
Tornadoes and Severe Storms
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Floods
Wildfires
Earthquakes
Drought
Disaster Distress Hotline

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Helping Children Cope With Disaster
FEMA for Kids
FEMA for Teens

U.S. Department of Education: Advice on how to help students recover from traumatic events:

American Red Cross: Recovering Emotionally

The Child Mind Institute: How to Help Children Cope With Frightening News

National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Center for Mental Health in Schools at UCLA