Natural Disaster Resources for Schools: Partnering with Multilingual Families

The following resources for schools include ideas for partnering with multilingual families during a natural disaster, supporting families impacted by a global disaster elsewhere, and supporting displaced families who relocate to a new school district. Updates on current crises are also included.
Current Events
- Mississippi Tornadoes: Resources for Schools
- A Combination of Natural Disasters in Ecuador: Resources for Schools
- Turkey and Syria Earthquake: Resources for Educators
Tips for Schools
The following articles offer multiple tips and resources for schools:
- How Schools Can Partner with ELL Families During Natural Disasters: Learn how schools can partner with multilingual families when preparing for and responding to natural disasters that impact the local community.
- When Your School Community Is Impacted by a Global Crisis: Learn how schools can provide social-emotional support for students who are impacted by crises in other places, such as their countries of origin.
- How to Support Multilingual Families Displaced by a Natural Disaster: Learn how schools can support multilingual families who have been displaced by a natural disaster in another city or country. (This resource section includes examples of community partnerships that supported families following Hurricane Maria.)
Resources by Topic
Hurricanes
- Helping Children Cope after a Hurricane (American Psychological Association) | Spanish version
- What You Should Know About Hurricanes (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
- Talk to Your Kids About Hurricanes (Scholastic Parents)
- What is the difference between a hurricane, cyclone and typhoon? (U.S. National Ocean Service | BBC)
- Remembering Hurricane Katrina: 15 Moving Books for Kids of All Ages (Brightly)
- Recommended Children's Books About Hurricanes (ThoughtCo)
Floods
- What You Should Know About Floods (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Tornadoes
- Tornado Resources (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Earthquakes
- 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)
- Managing Distress About an Earthquake from Afar (American Psychological Association) | Spanish version
Wildfires
- 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)