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Disaster Preparedness Self-assessment

Use this checklist to make sure your program is prepared for a natural disaster or other emergency.

Local Community Partnerships

  • Has your program set up a partnership with emergency services and the local emergency management agency in your city, county, state, Tribe, or territory?

Hazard Assessment

  • Has your program done an assessment, informed by your local emergency services, of possible emergencies in your geographic area?

Emergency Roles and Responsibilities

  • Does your staff know their roles and responsibilities?
  • Have you oriented staff and trained them on their emergency roles and responsibilities?

Communication

  • Does everyone in your program know how to get help in an emergency?
  • Does your program have emergency contact information for families, staff, consultants, and volunteers?
  • Do you have access to up-to-date communication technology, including texting, social media, and group emails?

Drills

  • Do you have and follow a schedule to practice drills so staff, children, and families know what to do in different emergencies?

Facility Safety

  • Does your program inspect the facility regularly to find conditions that may be unsafe?
  • Has your program repaired and improved your facility to help it withstand a natural disaster?

Emergency Supplies

  • Does your program have emergency supplies, including water, food, and other items, to care for children for at least 72 hours?
  • Have you put together a go-bag and a Bee CALM Backpack to take during an evacuation?

Relocation

  • Has your program set up two relocation sites?
  • Do staff and families know the addresses of the relocation sites?
  • Does your program have a letter of agreement with the agencies that operate these relocation sites?

Reunification

  • Do you have secure sign-out steps for families to pick up their children from a relocation site?

Mental Health

  • Does your plan include how to focus on the mental health needs of children, families, and staff before, during, and after an emergency?

Continuity of Services

  • Does your plan include how you will offer or adapt services (e.g., education, nutrition, mental health, and family support) for children and families as soon as possible after a disaster and until you can resume program operations?

Special Considerations for Disease Outbreaks, Epidemics, and Pandemics

  • Does your plan include policies and procedures for each of these types of emergencies that you can adapt when needs and health concerns arise?

Download Disaster Preparedness Self-assessment

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,  Safety Practices