Helping Children Cope with Natural Disasters: Archived Resources
The following resources are related to past events and may serve as a useful reference or historical record for educators and other professionals.
Earthquakes
Puerto Rico Earthquakes
News headlines
- Puerto Rico Schools Shut Down After Earthquakes Strike Island (Education Week)
- Public health emergency declared in Puerto Rico after deadly earthquake and aftershocks (CNN)
- ‘I don’t feel safe in my home’: Puerto Ricans flee damaged structures, fear more earthquakes (The Washington Post)
- Puerto Rico earthquake: Two-thirds of island still without power (BBC)
- Why Are So Many Earthquakes Happening in Puerto Rico? (The New York Times)
How to help
- Puerto Rico Earthquake Support (Hispanics in Philanthropy)
- Puerto Rico earthquake: How to help (The Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Puerto Rico Earthquake Relief (American Federation of Teachers)
- #ChefsForPuertoRico activates in response to massive earthquakes (World Central Kitchen)
- José Andrés’ Nonprofit Serves More Than 12,000 Meals to Puerto Rico Earthquake Victims (WAMU)
Indonesia Earthquake/Tsunami
- Managing Distress About an Earthquake from Afar (American Psychological Association)
- Talking with Children About a Tsunami in Another Country (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Guidance for School Personnel: Students Who had a Loved One Die in an Earthquake
- Talking to Children about Earthquakes & Other Natural Disasters (American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry)
Earthquakes in Iran/Iraq and Mexico
Resources
- Managing Distress About an Earthquake from Afar (American Psychological Association) | Spanish version
- What You Should Know About Earthquakes (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Guidance for School Personnel: Students Who had a Loved One Die in an Earthquake
- Talking to Children about Earthquakes & Other Natural Disasters (American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry)
Headlines: Iran/Iraq
- Iran-Iraq Earthquake Kills More Than 500 (The New York Times)
Headlines: Mexico
- In Earthquake Aftermath, It's Uncertain When Kids in Mexico Will Return to School (NPR)
- How to Help the Victims of the Central Mexican Earthquake (Huffington Post)
- Powerful 7.1 Earthquake Will Test Mexico's Emergency Response (PBS NewsHour)
Hurricanes, Cyclones, and Floods
Hurricane Dorian
How You Can Help
- How to Help Hurricane Dorian Survivors in the Bahamas (The New York Times)
- World Central Kitchen (founded by Chef José Andrés)
- Hurricane Dorian: Highly-rated organizations providing aid and relief (Charity Navigator)
- Hurricane Dorian: Southeast U.S. (Save the Children)
Related Headlines
- Schools in Palm Beach County, Florida, enroll displaced Bahamian students (CNN)
- Massive international rescue and relief effort underway in ravaged Bahamas as Hurricane Dorian aims at Carolinas (The Washington Post)
- How chef José Andrés is working to feed the storm-stricken Bahamas (PBS NewsHour)
- When disaster strikes, Jose Andres brings hot food and hope (PBS NewsHour)
Hurricane Florence
- Helping Children Cope after a Hurricane (American Psychological Association) | Spanish version
- What You Should Know About Floods and Hurricanes (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Understanding Child Traumatic Stress (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Talk to Your Kids About Hurricanes (Scholastic Parents)
- Remembering Hurricane Katrina: 15 Moving Books for Kids of All Ages (Brightly)
How You Can Help
Related Headlines
- For Farmworkers and Homeless, Florence Has Been Especially Harsh (The Washington Post)
- As Storms Loom, Some Immigrant Families Wonder: Is It Safe to Seek Help? (The New York Times)
- Teacher: The Real-Life Lesson in Empathy Kids Can Learn From Hurricane Florence
- Now a tropical storm, Florence’s sluggish pace promises to prolong misery (PBS NewsHour)
- As Florence Arrives, Carolina School Officials Anxious But Hope for the Best
Midwestern Floods
- How to Help Those Affected by Midwestern Flooding (PBS NewsHour)
- What You Should Know About Floods (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Cyclone Idai: Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe
How to help
- Save the Children
- Doctors Without Borders
- How to help cyclone victims in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe (PBS NewsHour)
News updates
- Zimbabweans Unite to Ease Cyclone Idai's Effects (Voice of America)
- Cyclone Idai Leaves Millions in Need of Rescue and Other Assistance (NPR)
- Cyclone Idai Leaves Mozambique Desperate and Submerged (PBS NewsHour)
- Cyclone Idai May Be 'One of the Worst' Disasters in the Southern Hemisphere (The New York Times)
What is a cyclone?
- What is the difference between a hurricane, cyclone and typhoon? (U.S. National Ocean Service | BBC)
- Why Cyclone Idai Was So Destructive (National Geographic)
Hurricane Maria: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
- In Puerto Rico, frustrated parents wonder when schools will reopen. It may be a while (Miami Herald)
- School Districts Ready to Enroll Puerto Rican Students Affected By Hurricane Maria (Education Week)
- U.S. Schools Brace for an Influx of Students from Puerto Rico (NPR)
- Re-Opening Puerto Rico's Schools Takes a Back Seat to Island's Basic Needs (Education Week)
- How You Can Help Hurricane Victims in Puerto Rico (PBS NewsHour)
- How to Help Mexico and Puerto Rico (Latino USA)
- Hurricane Maria Could Send Wave of Puerto Rican Students to Miami (Miami Herald)
Hurricane Irma
Resources for Affected Families & Educators
- Help Educators Affected by Hurricane Irma (NEA, AFT, and Florida Education Association)
- Hurricane Irma: How to Help (Save the Children)
- How to Help Hurricane Irma Victims — and How to Avoid Scams (The New York Times)
Related Headlines: Irma
- As Hurricane Irma Lashes Florida, Educators and Schools Offer Refuge (Education Week)
- Power 'Is the Number One Problem' for Florida Schools Trying to Re-Open (Education Week)
Hurricane Harvey
Resources for Affected Families & Educators
- Hurricane Harvey: Resources for Educators (American Federation of Teachers)
- Hurricane Harvey: Resources and Relief (National Education Association)
- Hurricane Harvey: Bilingual Resources List for Immigrant Families (United We Dream)
- Tips for Parents: Helping Kids Cope with Hurricane Harvey (Save the Children)
- How To Help Your Children Cope After Hurricane Harvey (Forbes)
- What You Should Know About Floods and Hurricanes (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Understanding Child Traumatic Stress (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- American Academy of Pediatrics' Statement on Hurricane Harvey
How You Can Help
- Houston Independent School District Foundation
- National groups can donate supplies to HISD students and families (HISD Blog)
- Here's How You Can Help Libraries and Schools Affected by Hurricane Harvey (International Literacy Association Daily)
- The latest on Hurricane Harvey and how you can help (PBS NewsHour)
Classroom Resources & Booklists
- How Media Literacy Can Help Talk About Hurricane Harvey with Students (Share My Lesson / PBS NewsHour)
- Learning About Hurricane Harvey and Ideas for Supporting Those Affected (Larry Ferlazzo)
- Hurricane Harvey Book Club (Facebook Group via Larry Ferlazzo)
- Houston Teacher's Reading Group Comforts Students in Hurricane Aftermath (Education Week)
- Hurricane Harvey Hits Texas (Scholastic News for Kids)
- Talk to Your Kids About Hurricanes (Scholastic Parents)
- Lesson Plans: Coping with Natural Disasters (Share My Lesson)
- Recommended Children's Books About Hurricanes (ThoughtCo)
- Remembering Hurricane Katrina: 15 Moving Books for Kids of All Ages (Brightly)
Related Headlines: Harvey
- Schools Reopen in Houston, Buoying Hope for Recovery (The Washington Post)
- As Students Return to School, the Future of Houston ISD Hangs in the Balance (Houston Chronicle)
- School Closings From Harvey Threaten Disruption Across Texas (The New York Times)
- Houston School Superintendent Says A Lot Of Work Ahead To Open Schools (NPR)
- A School Counselor Takes To The Floodwaters To Rescue His Students And Their Families (NPR)
- The DACA Hero (and Victim) of Hurricane Harvey (Latino USA)
Wildfires
West Coast Wildfires
Safety resources
- Guidance for Staying Safe: Wildfires & Smoke in Multiple Languages (Oregon Health Authority)
- What You Should Know About Wildfires: Bilingual Information (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Wildfire Safety (National Fire Protection Association)
- Wildfire Information (Ready.gov)