Kids and Pets

Before: get kids involved

• CDC says to include children when you build your emergency kits.^[1]
• CDC suggests adding comfort items like a flashlight, games, or favorite toys to help children stay calm.^[1]
• CDC says that if children are old enough, show them how to call 911 and help them memorize important phone numbers.^[1]
• CDC says to review the emergencies common in your area and their warning signs with your children.^[1]
• CDC says to help your child see school safety drills as reassuring rather than frightening.^[1]
• Ready.gov's Ready Kids section offers games, disaster facts, and preparedness tips for kids.^[2]

Backpack contact card

• CDC says to make a contact card for your child's backpack and another for your wallet.^[3]
• CDC says the card should include your child's name, date of birth, and any medical conditions or allergies.^[3]
• CDC says the card should include contact details for the school, day care, or caregivers.^[3]
• CDC says the card should include your contact information and emergency contacts to call if you can't be reached.^[3]

Supplies to leave at school or child care

• CDC suggests asking whether you should send extra essentials, such as diapers, a battery pack for medical equipment, food, milk or formula, and essential medicines like inhalers.^[3]
• CDC says to ask about the school's medication policy: how, when, and by whom medicine is given.^[3]

During

• CDC says that if your children are with you, stay calm, reassure them, and explain what is happening in simple words they can understand.^[1]

After: helping kids cope

• CDC says to give your child chances to talk about what happened and to answer their questions "in a truthful and understandable way."^[4]
• CDC says to return to normal routines, such as family meals and going back to school.^[4]
• CDC says to limit your child's exposure to news coverage of the disaster.^[4]
• CDC says to take care of your own stress with good food, exercise, and enough sleep.^[4]
• CDC says children ages 3 to 6 may show signs of distress such as bed-wetting, tantrums, sleep problems, or withdrawal.^[4]
• CDC says children ages 7 to 10 may feel sad or angry, fear the event will happen again, worry about school, or have trouble concentrating.^[4]
• CDC lists SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline, which you can call or text at 1-800-985-5990.^[4]
• CDC says children can help others in safe ways, such as volunteering with family, but they should not take part in disaster cleanup.^[1]

Pets

• The Red Cross says, "if it's not safe for you to stay home, it's not safe for your pets either."^[5]
• The Red Cross says to identify pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation route and call ahead.^[6]
• The Red Cross says its shelters try to accommodate household pets but animals may be housed elsewhere, and service animals are always admitted.^[6]
• The Red Cross says to list friends, relatives, boarding facilities, shelters, and vets who could care for your pets.^[6]
• The Red Cross says to practice getting pets into carriers calmly during evacuation drills.^[6]
• The Red Cross says to keep vaccinations and ID tags current and to consider microchipping.^[6]
• The Red Cross says pets may act differently after a disaster, so keep them under direct control.^[6]

Pet kit (Red Cross)

• Sturdy leashes, harnesses, or carriers^[6]
• Food, drinking water, bowls, litter and pan, and a manual can opener for canned food^[6]
• Medicines and copies of medical records in a waterproof container^[6]
• First aid kit^[6]
• Current photos of you with your pets^[6]
• Feeding schedules, medical and behavior notes, and your vet's name and number^[6]
• Pet beds and toys, if easy to carry^[6]