Disaster Preparedness Training - post

ChildCareED Child Care Training Center provides training and technical guidance designed for child care professionals responsible for group safety and regulatory compliance. Enroll in courses such as Stay Alert! Steps to Emergency Prep Buy Now $16.00 and Responding to Emergencies Buy Now $16.00 to build practical protocols, a communication plan, and staff competencies. Children and families rely on providers to maintain continuity of care when unexpected events occur; this article synthesizes operational steps you can adopt now to develop an Emergency Preparedness Plan that meets licensing expectations and supports children’s physical and emotional needs.

What must a child care emergency preparedness plan include?

An effective emergency preparedness plan begins with a local hazard assessment and then specifies operational procedures for prevention, immediate response, and recovery. At minimum, the plan should document: risk-specific actions (evacuation routes, shelter-in-place, lockdown), roles and primary/backup personnel assignments, communication protocols with families and first responders, medical/medication procedures, reunification and release policies, special-needs accommodations, and plans for continuity of care after an event. Cross-reference your plan with licensing requirements and incorporate periodic staff training and documentation of drills. For practical templates and program-level guidance, see: How can childcare centers create effective emergency preparedness plans? and Michigan licensing guidance on preparedness plans.

How do we practice drills and train staff so responses are reliable?

Drills convert plans into predictable routines. Establish an annual calendar that sequences fire, lockdown, shelter-in-place, and evacuation rehearsals for both children and staff. Assign clear, written responsibilities—who gathers attendance sheets, who bags medication, who escorts children with mobility or communication needs—and rotate roles so multiple staff can competently perform each duty. After every drill, conduct a short, structured debrief to capture what worked, what failed, and corrective actions; retain those notes in your program records. Strengthen staff competencies through blended training (online modules and in-person practice). The CDC and Red Cross offer validated training curricula that can augment program-level instruction: CDC disaster epidemiology and training resources and the American Red Cross 'Be Red Cross Ready' materials and Ready Rating tools provide community-facing preparedness curricula and workplace assessments (Red Cross Ready programs).

Integrate behavioral supports for children during drills. Use developmentally appropriate language and role-play for younger children; with preschool and school-age groups, explain the rationale for each drill so children learn safety procedures without undue fear. For guidance on teaching fire safety and age-appropriate discussion of risk, see How child care programs can teach fire safety effectively to young children?.

How can we teach disaster preparedness to children in developmentally appropriate ways?

Effective disaster education reduces anxiety and builds practical skills when it combines age-appropriate explanation, routine, and active practice. For infants and toddlers, prioritize caregiver calm, predictable transitions, and sensory supports (comfort objects, soft spaces). With preschoolers, use short, concrete scripts and role-play to rehearse simple actions (walking to exits, crouching for cover); use stories and puppets to normalize the procedures. For school-age children, introduce basic hazard concepts, simple decision rules (when to follow an adult, how to help a friend), and hands-on tasks such as identifying exits and practicing a personal go-bag checklist.

1. Scaffold learning: begin with emotional safety and familiar routines, then layer in skill practice and decision cues.
2. Use multimodal methods: combine pictorial maps, chants or songs for sequencing, and short drills that rehearse exact roles and movements.
3. Plan individualized accommodations: include visual schedules, social stories, and assistive-communication strategies so children with disabilities can participate fully.
4. Debrief and reinforce: after drills, hold short, developmentally matched discussions to praise steps taken, correct misconceptions, and link actions to comfort and safety.

Align classroom activities with program-level policy and staff training so messaging is consistent; see program adaptations in state guidance such as the Minnesota severe-weather and air-quality preparedness page How can Minnesota child care programs prepare for severe weather and poor air quality?. For validated adult training and technical assistance to support child-facing activities, use the CDC disaster training and the American Red Cross preparedness programs, which provide curricula and workplace assessment tools that map directly to classroom practices.

How should providers communicate with families during and after a disaster?

Robust family communication begins before an event. Maintain an up-to-date, multi-modal contact roster (primary, secondary, emergency contacts) and obtain written release authorizations that specify who may pick up each child. Designate a communications lead and pre-create templated messages for common scenarios (evacuation, shelter-in-place, facility damage, temporary closure) to reduce cognitive load during a crisis. Use at least two redundant channels (phone trees/SMS, email, social media updates, and a publicly accessible hotline or voicemail) and decide ahead of time which channel is authoritative. For practical message templates and a structured communications checklist see How to Communicate with Families During a Daycare Emergency.

How do you assemble and maintain a 72-hour disaster kit for a child care setting?

A child care 72-hour kit should be inventory-controlled, accessible, and tailored to the age and special needs of enrolled children. Essentials include: water (1 gallon per person per day), nonperishable food, manual can opener, first-aid kit with anaphylaxis supplies if needed, extra diapers/formula/bottles, blankets and weather-appropriate clothing, sanitation supplies (hand sanitizer, wipes, garbage bags), flashlights and batteries, hygiene supplies, comfort/soothing items for young children, and a secured folder with critical documents (enrollment records, medication administration records, emergency contact lists, signed release forms). Label medication with clear administration instructions and dates; store medications per licensing rules. Rotate food and medication stock quarterly and document inventory checks. For extreme-weather adaptations and program-level practices, see How Child Care Programs Can Keep Children Safe During Extreme Weather.

Where can I find additional program-level resources and courses?

In addition to the courses linked in the introduction, consider the full Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Buy Now $55.00 course for operational checklists and the CDC/Red Cross trainings cited above for community-level competencies. Also consult Virginia emergency preparedness documentation guidance for examples of what licensing bodies expect programs to have on file.

Summary: What are the key steps to disaster preparedness for child care providers?

Prioritize a risk-based written plan, routine drills with documented debriefs, clear family communications, and an inventory-controlled 72-hour kit. Use available training (local Red Cross, CDC modules, and childcareed.com courses) to build staff capacity and to align your plan with licensing requirements. Regular review, documentation, and inclusion of accommodations for children with special health needs will preserve continuity of care during and after incidents. Review plans annually and after any incident to ensure ongoing relevance.

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