Disaster preparedness resources for families in Hawaii
The recent disaster in Japan and subsequent tsunami warning for Hawaii shows it is imperative families have a plan to deal with potential natural disasters, Hawaii KIDS COUNT says in its March newsletter. Hawaii State Civil Defense's website has a wealth of resources related to disaster preparedness, as well as the latest news releases concerning tsunami damage and the threat of radiation exposure.
The website provides a template for mapping out an emergency plan; and information on an emergency supply kit is available to help families know what to keep on hand in case of an emergency. Also, the tsunami evacuation zone mapping tool allows you to enter your address, or search by island area, to determine whether you and your family live in an inundation zone.
Two planning guides helpful to families with children are:
- The FEMA report Helping Children Cope With Disaster, available here: http://www.scd.hawaii.gov/documents/FEMA478.pdf
- Preparing for Disaster, a comprehensive disaster planning guide, available here: http://scd.hawaii.gov/documents/FEMA475.pdf
Information on, and links to, the local chapter of the American Red Cross, the International Tsunami Information Center, and many more resources are on the home page and can be accessed at: http://www.scd.hawaii.gov/index.html.
