New online toolbox to help keep kids safe in disasters

NEW YORK – A new set of online tools is designed to help families and communities keep children safe in disasters.

The Resilient Children/Resilient Communities Toolbox is an initiative led by the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University’s Earth Institute and the international non-profit group Save the Children.

Pilot communities in Washington County, Arkansas and Putnam County, New York helped to develop, test and fine-tune the new child-focused disaster planning model.

Organizers say the initiative will help parents, community leaders, emergency management officials, schools and child care centres to prepare for emergencies and later restore a sense of normalcy for children.

Topics include guidelines for keeping children safe in emergency shelters.

There also are sample questions that parents can ask their child care providers.