When hurricanes or floods strike, families face numerous challenges. Here are practical steps to help you protect your children and ensure their well-being during and after these natural disasters.
Evacuate When Advised by Authorities
Preparation is key if your area is at risk for hurricanes. Make a disaster supply kit that includes extra food, water, and necessary medications. Secure your home by boarding windows and storing outdoor furniture to minimize storm damage. Always heed evacuation warnings from officials—when in doubt, it's safer to get out.
Return Home Only When Safe
Wait until authorities confirm it's safe to return, especially if utilities like water and electricity aren’t restored. Without these essentials, caring for your children will be difficult, and services like hospitals, pharmacies, and grocery stores may be closed or limited.
Ensure Your Home is Safe Before Bringing Children Back
Children should not participate in clean-up efforts, as floodwaters can contain harmful chemicals, sewage, or dangerous debris. Make sure all floodwaters are cleared and follow CDC guidelines for mold prevention and safe clean-up practices. If using a generator, keep it outdoors and far from your home to avoid carbon monoxide risks.
Check for Hazards in and Around Your Home
Inspect your home and neighborhood for sharp debris, wild animals, or downed electrical wires. Floodwaters can attract mosquitoes that spread illnesses, so take precautions to protect your family. Ensure your children stay out of extreme weather conditions and avoid playing in unfamiliar or unsafe areas.
Provide Routine and Supervision for Your Children
Schools and playgrounds may be closed, and your usual support network may be unavailable. Establish routines at home to create a sense of normalcy. Set regular mealtimes, bedtimes, and make sure your children know where you'll be and when you’ll return if you need to leave.
Acknowledge That Familiar Places May Have Changed
Returning home might be comforting, but children could be upset by damage to their surroundings. Be prepared for changes to your neighborhood, like missing landmarks, closed businesses, or friends who have moved away. These losses may be hard for children to process.
Talk Openly About What Happened
Avoid keeping quiet about the disaster. Children need the opportunity to express their feelings and ask questions. Provide simple, age-appropriate explanations about what happened and how the community is working to recover. Reassure them about the steps taken to keep everyone safe.
Limit Exposure to Media
While it’s important to stay informed, constant media exposure can heighten anxiety, especially for younger children. Encourage family activities away from screens and be present to answer questions and provide comfort if children are exposed to distressing news.
Watch for Behavioral Changes
Stress can manifest in children in various ways, such as trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, social withdrawal, or physical complaints like headaches. Be patient and reach out to a pediatrician if these symptoms persist or worsen over time.
Share Coping Strategies with Your Children
Model healthy ways to handle emotions. Whether you talk to friends, exercise, or engage in creative outlets like art or journaling, sharing these techniques can help your children develop their own coping skills.
Take Care of Yourself
Children look to the adults around them for reassurance and stability. Ensure you manage your own stress and seek support when needed so you can provide the care and comfort your children require.
Offer Comfort During Grief
If your family has experienced a loss, help your children through their grieving process. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, a home, or a friend who has moved away, be present and provide age-appropriate ways for them to express their feelings.
Encourage Helping Others
Involving your children in community recovery efforts, even in small ways, can give them a sense of purpose and control. Helping others can ease feelings of helplessness and foster resilience.
Remember, Recovery is a Process
Rebuilding a home takes time, and emotional recovery can take even longer. Expect ups and downs, and seek support when needed. Keeping communication open with your child’s school and pediatrician will ensure your family has the tools they need to heal.