After recent national disasters like hurricane Katrina many children may be concerned about preparing for emergency. FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Association has created a website designed for kids to understand how FEMA works and how they can prepare best for an emergency in their hometown.
FEMA for Kids has sections on floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunami, thunderstorms, volcanoes, earthquakes, wildfires, winter storms, and national security emergencies.
The site has several games and quizzes for children to participate in, and gives children the opportunity to become a disaster action kid , Disaster action kids will receive a free activity book, brochure, coloring book, door knob hanger, and book from FEMA as well as a certificate with their name on it.
I think sites like this one are great for kids to visit. While they may not give kids a lot of information that you as a parent don’t know the information is useful. Reading about what to do in an emergency can make your child more prepared should an emergency occur in your area.
It is always a good idea when your area is threatened by a large storm or other disaster to go over emergency procedures with your children. While you may think your child knows what to do in the case of an emergency going over things can make you and your child feel more comfortable should a disaster situation occur.
Another cool feature of this site is that kids can look at what is going on in your particular area right now There is a huge map of the United States children can click on and find out what types of emergencies they should look out for as well as what disasters have happened recently in the area.
Children can also look at “Today in Disaster History” where they can see what disasters were occurring previously on a particular date.