How can our Florida child care program get ready for hurricane season? - post

Hurricane season means planning now so your child care program can keep kids safe, calm families, and help #staff do their jobs. This guide gives simple, practical steps for Florida providers. You will get checklists for a center Go-Bag, clear staff roles, calm drills for young #children, and ideas to talk with families. For training and templates, see ChildCareEd's emergency preparedness guide and the Emergency and Disaster Preparedness course. state requirements vary - check your state licensing agency. 

What should our written plan and supplies include?

1. 📘 Written plan: 1) hazard list (wind, flood), 2) evacuation and shelter-in-place steps, 3) reunification rules, and 4) where extra supplies are kept. Use a fillable template from ChildCareEd to make this easy.
2. 🧭 Roles and contact list: 1) who calls 911, 2) who checks attendance, 3) who grabs the Go-Bag. Post numbered job cards in each room so substitute staff can step in fast.
3. 🎒 Center Go-Bag must have: attendance sheet, emergency contacts, medications with permission forms, first aid kit, flashlights, battery radio, chargers/power banks, water, nonperishable snacks, comfort items and copies of your written plan. For a full supply list see the Red Cross kit suggestions at Red Cross survival kit.
4. 👶 Infant and special needs items: formula, diapers, feeding supplies, any pumps, extra batteries — follow CDC infant feeding guidance: CDC checklist.
5. 🔁 Check and rotate supplies every 3 months and after every drill. Keep a checklist in your Go-Bag and note expiration dates.

These steps help your #staff act quickly and protect the #children in your care.

How do we teach children and run drills without scaring them?

1. 😊 Use friendly language and a helper character. For ideas, see ChildCareEd's Little Storm Helpers.
2. 🔁 Make drills short and predictable: 1) signal, 2) walk to safe spot, 3) count heads, 4) quiet activity. Keep drills under 5 minutes for preschoolers and debrief with a calming routine like a song or a story.
3. 🎨 Use play: 1) pack a pretend Go-Bag, 2) practice a calm corner routine, 3) make weather charts so a daily Weather Helper can point to conditions. Play teaches skills and lowers fear.
4. 👩‍🏫 Train staff to keep voices calm and give clear, simple instructions. After each drill, staff should debrief: what worked? what to improve? Document notes. FEMA's IS-036 training helps staff plan roles—see FEMA IS-36 for guidance.
5. 🧘 Offer reassurance after drills. Let children use comfort items from your Go-Bag and read a short book about helpers. The CDC has tips on talking with kids after events: CDC children and school preparedness.

Keeping drills calm helps kids learn and keeps your classroom a safe, caring place.

How should we communicate with families and reunify after a storm?

1. 📣 Share your plan before season starts: give families a one-page plan in orientation and post it online. Include how you will send updates (text, phone, center app) and your primary and backup reunification sites. For templates and training see ChildCareEd.
2. 📋 Check contact lists monthly. Common problem: outdated phone numbers. Keep a paper copy in your Go-Bag in case power or cell service is down.
3. 🔐 Reunification steps: 1) designate an on-site reunification lead, 2) verify ID against your emergency form, 3) use a sign-out log, 4) move families to a safe, staffed area for pickup. The CDC explains reunification best practices at CDC reunification.
4. 📍 If you must evacuate, tell families where you will go and how you will share updates. Post your evacuation location and alternate meeting place in your handbook and on your website. Florida-specific resources are available from AHCA and the Florida Department of Health: Florida AHCA and Florida DOH emergency info.
5. 📝 After the event, document timelines, calls, and who picked up each child. This record helps with reporting and family questions.

Good communication helps families feel confident that your program will protect their children.

What common mistakes do providers make and how can we avoid them?

Learn from problems others have had. Fixing these now makes your program stronger.

1. ⚠️ Outdated contact lists — fix: review and confirm contacts monthly and keep a paper copy in the Go-Bag.
2. ⚠️ No posted staff roles — fix: post numbered role cards in every room and practice them in drills.
3. ⚠️ Overfilled or expired supplies — fix: schedule quarterly Go-Bag checks and rotate food/medicines. Use Red Cross and CDC checklists: Red Cross kit and CDC infant checklist.
4. ⚠️ Scary drills for kids — fix: keep drills short, use calm language, and give children helper jobs (see Little Storm Helpers).
5. ⚠️ Not checking state rules — fix: confirm training and plan requirements with your state. For Florida providers, review AHCA and DOH resources linked above; state requirements vary - check your state licensing agency.

Quick FAQ

1. Q: How often should we run drills? A: Do short drills with children at least twice a year for storms; follow any state rules for frequency. Fire drills are often monthly—check state rules.
2. Q: How long should our Go-Bag supplies last? A: Aim for a Go-Kit (3 days portable) and a Stay-at-Home kit (up to 2 weeks). The Red Cross explains recommended amounts: Red Cross survival kit.
3. Q: What about children with medical needs? A: Include meds with permission forms, extra supplies, and staff trained in administration. See CDC resources for children with special healthcare needs: CDC children in disasters.
4. Q: Where can staff get more training? A: Take ChildCareEd's Emergency and Disaster Preparedness course or FEMA IS-36 training: FEMA IS-36.

Conclusion

Prepare step-by-step and keep things simple. 1) Write a clear plan and post staff roles, 2) pack and check a center Go-Bag, 3) teach children with calm drills, and 4) practice family communication and reunification. Take a course to feel confident—see ChildCareEd's course. Your work keeps #Florida families safer and helps your #staff and #children feel more secure. Start with one small task this week (update contacts, check a flashlight, or time a quick drill). Small steps make a big difference. #hurricane #Florida #children #staff #GoBag

Start simple and build your plan with these numbered parts so everyone knows what to do.Young children need short, calm practice. Turn safety into a game and give kids small jobs so they feel helpful. Use these steps:Communication and reunification planning build trust and keep children safe. Use clear steps your families can follow.