National Requirements and Recommendations for Early Childhood Emergency Preparedness

State, territory, and Tribal regulations have different disaster planning requirements. This manual will help you include these requirements and best practice recommendations in your emergency preparedness plan.

Head Start Program Performance Standards

Read these standards at Safety practices, 45 CFR §1302.47 to learn more about emergency preparedness requirements for Head Start programs:

• (b)(4)(i)(G) Safety training for staff with regular child contact
• (b)(4)(ii) Safety training for staff without regular child contact
• (b)(7)(i) Administrative safety procedures
• (b)(8) Disaster preparedness plan
• (b)(9) COVID-19 mitigation policy

Child Care and Development Fund Regulations 

The Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations [45 CFR 98.16(dd)] requires CCDF State, Territorial, and Tribal Lead Agencies to make a statewide or territory disaster plan for child care or a Tribe’s service area. Use this infographic to learn more about CCDF licensing regulations and what child care providers must do.

Caring for Our Children Standards

Caring for Our Children (CFOC) is a collection of national recommendations that represent the best practices — based on evidence, expertise, and experience — for high-quality health and safety policies and practices for early childhood settings. Use these standards when writing your disaster preparedness plan:

• 1.4.3.1: First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training for Staff
• 1.4.3.2: Topics Covered in Pediatric First Aid Training
• 3.4.3.1: Medical Emergency Procedures
• 3.4.3.2: Use of Fire Extinguishers
• 3.4.3.3: Response to Fire and Burns
• 4.9.0.8: Supply of Food and Water for Disasters
• 5.1.4.1: Alternate Exits and Emergency Shelter
• 5.1.4.2 Evacuation of Children with Special Health Care Needs
• 5.1.4.6: Labeled Emergency Exits
• 5.2.2.4: Emergency Lighting
• 5.2.5.1: Smoke Detection Systems and Smoke Alarms
• 5.2.5.2: Portable Fire Extinguishers
• 5.2.6.5: Emergency Safe Drinking Water and Bottled Water
• 5.3.1.12: Availability and Use of a Telephone or Wireless Communication Device
• 5.4.5.2 Cribs
• 5.6.0.1 First Aid and Emergency Supplies
• 6.5.2.6: Route to Emergency Medical Services
• 9.2.4.1 Written Plan and Training for Handling Urgent Medical or Threatening Incidents
• 9.2.4.2: Review of Written Plan for Urgent Care and Threatening Incidents
• 9.2.4.4: Written Plan for Seasonal and Pandemic Influenza
• 9.2.4.5 Emergency and Evacuation Drills Policy
• 9.2.4.6 Use of Daily Roster During Evacuation Drills
• 9.2.5 Transportation Policies for Centers and Large Family Homes
• 9.2.4.3 Disaster Planning, Training, and Communication
• 9.4.1.16 Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Drill Records
• BB: Emergency Information Form for Children with Special Health Care Needs
• KK: Authorization for Emergency Medical/Dental Care
• NN: First Aid and Emergency Supply Lists

Last Updated: June 13, 2025