ASSISTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
COPING WITH DISASTER 

With hurricane season here and realizing that many of our readers across the state are professionals working with families and children, we offer this timely information.  Hopefully the information will be beneficial to parents, grandparents and other family members as well.  If you were not directly affected by the hurricanes of 2005, more than likely you know those who were and will perhaps share this information with them.  After disasters, children are more likely than adults to suffer post-traumatic-stress-disorder (FTSD).  This occurs especially when they did not receive enough help and support immediately after the disaster.

Dr. Ellen Abell, Extension Specialist & Associate Professor at Auburn University in the area of Human Development and Family Studies, and her colleagues have developed an excellent resource, Assisting Children and Families Coping with Disaster, that is available on-line and soon will be available on DVD and video tape.  Colleagues working with her to develop the resource were Dr. Jennifer Kerpelman - Professor and Extension Specialist, Human Development and Family Studies at Auburn University; Dr. Jamie Carney - Professor of Counselor Education, Counseling Psychology and School Psychology at AU; Dr. Scott Ketring - Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and Marriage and Family Therapy at AU; and Dr. Judith Myers-Walls - Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Child Development and Family Studies at Purdue University Cooperative Extension System.  Dr. Myers-Walls is the recognized national Extension expert of children and disaster.  The presentation may be accessed via the internet at http://www.aces.edu/extcomm/satellite/MMLab-tmpl. 

An additional excellent resource is the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN).  This site includes preparation information, information on Children and Disasters, Children's Response to Disaster, and Families Response to Disaster.  The preparation information includes the suggestion to assemble a kit for your children.  Suggested items to include are:  a few favorite books, crayons and paper; puzzles, a board game, deck of cards; two favorite small toys, such as a doll or action figures, a stuffed animal; favorite blanket, pillow; pictures of family and pets; and other special items that will comfort children.  The site also offers advice on communicating with children about disaster.  The web site is http://www.eden.lsu.edu.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security web site provides information on how to develop a Family Disaster plan, has a list of items to have in a disaster supply kit, and includes coping plans for Extreme Heat, Fires, Hurricanes, Thunderstorms, and Lightening; Tornadoes, Winter Storms and Extreme Cold; and Recovering from Disaster.  There is also information available on how to assemble your Preparedness Kit from the hardware and grocery store over a twenty week time period.  Forms available on-line include Family Communication Plan, Emergency Information List, Medical Information List and Disability-Related Supplies and Special Equipment List.

Hopefully the Gulf States will not experience the devastation of 2005, but being prepared will make any disaster more manageable.  For additional information, contact the Tallapoosa County Extension Office at (256) 825-1050.