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NIEHS Kids' Pages Index

Hurricane Katrina
and the NIEHS

A Storm of Environmental Health Challenges!

Hurricane Katrina left behind a very unhealthy environment for the Gulf Coast area that could affect the health and safety of many people and animals who live, work, or were visiting in that area. Assisting with the impact of exposures to environmental contaminants is what we do best here at NIEHS (the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences), so we quickly went into action!

First, a few definitions to help you understand these terms:

Environment: Everything around us; everything within our surroundings; our atmosphere, background, circumstances, climate, habitat, neighborhood, territory, turf, etc. Also visit our storybood, "Sharon Finds the Environment", for more information about your environment! Impact: An effect; something of influence or significance to us. Exposures: Coming into physical contact with something; being subjected to risk from a harmful action or condition Contaminant: Something unhealthy.

NIEHS scientists and physicians were immediately sent to the devastated areas to assist with relief efforts. In addition, NIEHS also created a new website with a Global Information System (GIS) to provide important information about the possible health effects of the disaster.

The above Hurricane Katrina Information Website also provides information about many other ongoing NIEHS efforts related to recovery efforts, including our work with other federal agencies to address environmental impact and cleanup efforts.

Here's a helpful packing list and other useful suggestions developed from FEMA's Emergency Preparedness Checklist and other resources. And kids, remember that YOU can help your families collect these items so your family will be ready to roll in an emergency!

at least a three-day supply of water, allowing 1 gallon per person per day; store water in sealed, unbreakable containers, and identify the storage date so that emergency supplies can be renewed every six months; canned and no-cook food that doesn't spoil (such as crackers, peanut butter, dry cereal, canned fruit and vegetables; non-electric can opener; flashlight and plenty of extra batteries; a first-aid kit (don't forget basic over the counter and prescription medicine); portable radio or NOAA weather radio; cell phone and AC/DC chargers a change of clothing, rain gear and comfortable, sturdy shoes. pillows, blankets, and/or sleeping bags; An extra pair of glasses. an extra set of car and house keys;

• credit or ATM card and cash;
• any special needs for babies, disabled, and elderly family members;
• beloved or comfort items for children -- toys, favorite stuffed animal, etc.
• pet needs (food, water, proper ID tags, leashes and collars, and crates as needed to transport pets to safety)
• car supplies, including plenty of gas, booster cables, fire extinguisher, maps, shovel, tire repair kit;
• a list of family physicians and medications you take;
• a list of important family information and a waterproof container with vital documents such as birth certificates, social security numbers, etc.;
• the style and serial number of medical devices such as pacemakers;
• phone numbers and contact information for a friend or relative for family members to call if separated during a disaster (remember: it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the affected area).
• two emergency meeting places:
  1. a place to gather near your home in case of a fire;
  2. a place to gather outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.

Resources to Print and Use for Family Planning
Red Cross Family Disaster Plan Booklet
NOAA Family Disaster Plan and Disaster Supply Kit List
(but don't forget to add some of the other items shown above to the NOAA and Red Cross lists!)

Have a family discussion about... the dangers of fire, severe weather, earthquakes and other emergencies, and how each member of the family should respond to each; the safe spots in your home for each type of disaster; power outages (remember that Candles, oil lamps, generators, grills, etc., can be dangerous and should only be used with ADULT supervision; and generators and grills should never be operated indoors); what to do for personal injuries (including the location of emergency numbers and first aid kits); two escape routes from each room of the house; which family or friends located out of your area are to be used for a central point of contact and coordination; what to do to safeguard your pets.

Other ideas for your parents or other adults in your home:

• keep family records in a water and fire-proof container.
• learn how to turn off the water, gas and electricity at main switches, when necessary;
• post emergency telephone numbers near telephones and teach children how and when to call 911, police and fire;
• develop an evacuation plan with a place to meet or leave messages; i.e., teach children how and when to evacuate the house and two emergency meeting places:
  1. a place to gather near your home in case of a fire;
  2. a place to gather outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.
• teach everyone in the family your designated contact's phone numbers;
• provide notifications to school or child-care personnel about how to reach your designated contact;
• instruct household members to turn on the radio for emergency information;
• ensure vehicles are fueled and in good repair
• learn CPR; contact your local American Red Cross about classes;
• search your home and eliminate hazards such as the following (but remember...all of these jobs are for the ADULTS ONLY -- "hazards" are DANGEROUS!)
  • Repair defective electrical wiring;
  • Trim trees;
  • Secure water heater by strapping it to a wall.

Other Resources

...for Kids

• FEMA for Kids!; teaches you how to be prepared for disasters and prevent disaster damage. You can also learn what causes disasters, play games, read stories and become a Disaster Action Kid.
  • American Red Cross Interactive Zone for Kids; with games and coloring books.
  • The Disaster Area; disasters come in many shapes and sizes. Most are related to the weather. Some are predictable -- like a hurricane. Some, like an earthquake, surprise us. It's good for you to know about the different kinds of disasters so you can be prepared! Although disasters themselves aren't fun, learning about them is!
  • Disaster Connection -- Kids to Kids; if you have been through a disaster, this is a place where you can tell your story with poems, artwork and essays. You can also hear what other kids have to say about disasters.
  • For the Little Ones; Games, mazes, activities!
  • What's Happening Now?; click on a state to find out what's happening now in that areas.
• First Step! Preparedness Assessment
• Hurricane Survival for Kids, a UNC TV website with activities to help you learn more about hurricane safety!
• "Let's Talk About Feelings", a children's activity book created by the Mental Health Association in North Carolina to serve as a tool to initiate conversation about the different emotions that young children may experience. Through word games, puzzles, and other activities, the book allows children to put words with their feelings and express themselves in new ways.
• National Public Health Week Kids Corner, with Sudoku, Crossword, Maze, and Memory games!
• National Weather Service Playtime for Kids
• Ready Kids, by the US Department of Homeland Security; a disaster preparedness site for kids with Scavenger Hunt and Pack It Up games, coloring books, and other fun activities.
• Sesame Solutions for Safety
• Tox Town
  Please note before visiting the Tox Town website: Due to it's re-direct features, you cannot use the "back" feature to return to the NIEHS Kids Pages; therefore, simply CLOSE the Tox Town window to quickly return to the NIEHS Kids Pages activities.
  Tox Town has four neighborhood scenes that use color, graphics, sounds, and animation to add interest to learning about connections between chemicals, the environment and the public's health. It is suggested for high school and higher level students, educators, and the concerned public who want to learn more about these topics.

for Parents and Teachers

• American Red Cross Disaster Publications for Children
• FEMA Disaster Recovery Roles for Kids
• FEMA "How To Help Children After A Disaster: A Guidebook For Teachers" (PDF)
• FEMA Resources for Parents and Teachers
• Helping Children Handle Disaster-related Anxiety (National Mental Health Association)
• LEAD & MANAGE MY SCHOOL (Emergency Planning, US Department of Education)
• Masters of Disaster Introduction
• NIH Response to Hurricane Katrina Disaster; a multitude of resources provided by the National Institutes of Health!
• National Library of Medicine Hurricane Katrina Resources

And we also hope you will visit the NIEHS Kids' Pages "NIEHS...What's that all about?" website and the official NIEHS Homepage to learn more about the mission of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Note -- some of the links shown above are not NIEHS sites. They will open in a separate window which will return you to this site when closed.

When you encounter this image or the words "Non-NIEHS Link", it means that by following that link you will be leaving the NIEHS website. NIEHS is NOT responsible for the content of other websites. Sites maintained by outside organizations may be changed without notice to NIEHS. Therefore, unless the link is to another U.S. government sponsored webpage, endorsement by NIEHS is not implied, and NIEHS does not guarantee their continuing safe content or privacy policies. So please ask your parent or guardian before continuing, and especially before providing any information via the internet or by e-mail. When last reviewed, this website seemed suitable for you to visit; but if you have any difficulties or concerns about it, please let us know. For more information, we recommend you visit and review our Disclaimers and Privacy Policies.

Links Disclaimer and Caution

When you encounter this image or the words "Non-NIEHS Link", it means that by following that link you will be leaving the NIEHS website. NIEHS is NOT responsible for non-NIEHS websites. Sites maintained by outside organizations may be changed without notice to NIEHS. Therefore, unless the link is to another U.S. government sponsored webpage, endorsement by NIEHS is not implied, and NIEHS does not guarantee their continuing safe content or privacy policies. So please ask your parent or guardian before continuing to any non-NIEHS website, and especially before providing any information via the internet or by e-mail. When last reviewed, the websites linked from the NIEHS Kids' Pages seemed suitable for you to visit, but that may have changed; if you have any difficulties or concerns with any linked materials, please let us know.