Web Sites by Topic 

Natural Disasters, National Disasters (including Terrorism & Bioterrorism), Emergency Planning, and Disaster Preparedness

Disasters occur every day, and each year millions are affected.  Whether natural or otherwise, the extreme and overwhelming forces of disaster may have far-reaching effects.  Though devastating events may last from seconds to a few days, effects may continue from months to years during the extended process of recovery, reconstruction, and restoration.  Long- term recovery varies significantly due to the complex interaction of psychological, social, cultural, political, and economic factors (www.ncptsd.va.gov). 

American Red Cross provides materials, curriculum guides, and lesson plans specifically designed for classroom/school use such as a school disaster supplies kit and the Be Ready 1-2-3 Instructor’s Manual for lesson plans on earthquakes, winter storms, and home fires (http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_503_,00.html) and (http://www.redcross.org/pubs/dspubs/tchrschl.html). 

U.S. Dept. of Education offers many resources on emergency planning, crisis planning, and harassment resources (www.ed.gov/teachers/dev/safety/edpicks.jhtml?src=rt).  

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) helps children and adolescents cope with violence and disasters.  Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters describes the impact of violence and disasters on children and adolescents, with suggestions for minimizing long-term emotional harm (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/violence.cfm).

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) offers tips that help children cope after a disaster (http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/disaster.htm).

American Medical Association (AMA) Center for Preparedness and Emergency Response offers resources regarding bioterrorism and Anthrax (http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/6206.html).

National Mental Health Association helps children, pre-school through adolescence, cope with disaster-related anxiety and disaster-related anniversaries (http://www.nmha.org/reassurance/children.cfm).

Purdue Extension: Terrorism and Children assists adults in talking with children about terrorism, war, and parent deployments to war zones and how to recognize symptoms of distress in children using documents, videos, and audiotapes (http://www.ces.purdue.edu/purplewagon/WAR/Mainwar.htm ).

National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health provides information on disaster and terrorism readiness, including evacuation research (http://ncdp.mailman.columbia.edu). 

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides information on talking about disasters, safe schools, substance abuse, and HIV prevention.  Some disaster resources are offered in Spanish  (http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cmhs/managinganxiety/tips.asp). 

U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services offers information and fact sheets on disasters, bioterrorism, and emergency preparedness (http://www.hhs.gov/emergency/index.shtml#environmental).