In support of the fifth annual
National Preparedness Month sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and to honor its Ready Campaign, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is offering disaster preparedness resources to enhance our nation's capacity to prepare for and respond to terrorism and disaster.
Disasters and terrorism can have devastating physical and psychological effects on children and families. Children and teenagers are at risk for stress reactions including sleep and eating disturbances, irritability, anger, headaches, and stomachaches. They may also have behavior problems at school, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, avoid friends, or even engage in dangerous or risky behaviors.
There are strategies that can be put in place to significantly improve the emotional well-being of children and families after a disaster. "Being prepared for terrorism and disasters reduces anxiety and promotes confidence and resilience in children and families," notes Alan Steinberg, PhD, of the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute.
The following materials are designed to help children, families, educators, and communities become educated and prepared in the event of a disaster.
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