FEMA Launches Children-In-Disasters Initiative With IAEM, Save The Children And American Red Cross 

Release Date: November 17, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-246

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is teaming up with the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), Save the Children Foundation and the American Red Cross to launch an initiative that will enable the emergency management community to better address the needs of children in disasters.

"This initiative will involve concrete steps to focus attention on the needs of children in disasters and help the emergency management community address children’s special needs in the emergency planning process," FEMA Administrator Paulison said. "Although this initiative is a work-in-progress, we’re committed to a course of action that involves assessing and adjusting disaster response services for children."

The first action involves the development of a training course for state and local emergency managers by the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate, Emergency Management Institute in collaboration with IAEM and Save the Children. The course will be designed to help state and local emergency managers incorporate the needs of children into the emergency planning process and standard Emergency Operations Plans. It will be based on Save the Children Foundation’s emergency management guide, The Unique Needs of Children in Emergencies, a Guide for the Inclusion of Children in Emergency Operations Plan.

"Children are extremely vulnerable during an emergency and evacuation," said Mark Shriver, vice president and managing director of Save the Children's U.S. programs and chair of the National Commission on Children and Disasters. "It is crucial that communities plan ahead for disasters, with a special focus on assisting children."

The collaborative effort by FEMA, IAEM, Save the Children Foundation and the American Red Cross and the development of the course for the emergency management community is to be announced Monday, Nov. 17, at the annual conference of IAEM in Kansas City, Mo. The course is expected to be completed by the end of June 2009.

FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 18-Nov-2008 19:06:03