US Virgin Islands Hotel & Tourism Association

The third week of National Preparedness Month highlights the importance of including youth when preparing for disasters. Between school, sports and social lives, it’s possible that you won’t be with your kids if a disaster happens. Educating them means that when the time comes, chances are, they’ll feel prepared, not scared.

Young people experience the same hazards as adults do, this makes them an important part of building a national culture of preparedness.

Here are some ways to include youth in preparedness:

• Include planning for all members of the family, collecting age appropriate emergency supplies, planning for pets, and having a communications plan to know who to contact in a disaster if the family is not together.
• Kids can learn about disasters through “Prepare with Pedro Disaster Preparedness Activity Book” and “Ready 2 Help.”
• Promote good financial saving practices by providing clear steps to saving, budgeting and setting and meeting financial goals.
• To learn more, go to Ready.gov/kids and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Each September, National Preparedness Month reminds us to prepare ourselves, our families, and our communities for the disasters and emergencies that could happen where we live, work and visit.

Learn more about the many ways that you can prepare in the case of a disaster or emergency by visiting Ready.gov.