Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. Communities, families, and individuals should know what to seek shelter during a tornado. They should be ready to evacuate their homes and take refuge in public shelters and know how to care for their basic medical needs.

People also can reduce the impact of disasters (flood proofing, elevating a home or moving a home out of harm’s way, and securing items that could shake loose in an earthquake) and sometimes avoid the danger completely. (FEMA)

Are You Ready?

An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness

Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness (IS-22) is FEMA’s most comprehensive source on individual, family, and community preparedness. The guide has been revised, updated, and enhanced in August 2004 to provide the public with the most current and up-to-date disaster preparedness information available.

                     Is Your School Ready for an Earthquake?

• Earthquake plans (part of School Emergency Management Plan)
• FEMA-  Are you Ready...In-depth guide to Natural Disasters for Citizens
• FEMA- Simulation to read at school as an earthquake real-time scenario

Earthquake Safety Activities...This updated publication provides elementary school teachers with ready-to-use, hands-on activities that explain what happens during an earthquake, how to prepare for earthquake shaking, and how to stay safe during and after an earthquake. Included are a variety of handouts for students, including maps, songs, “hazard hunt” worksheets, and earthquake safety checklists.

Other FEMA Resources:

Tremor Troop: Earthquakes—A Teacher's Package for K-6. Revised Edition
Earthquake Preparedness: What Every Child Care Provider Needs to Know
Seismic Sleuths: Earthquakes—A Teacher's Package for Grades 7-12
Earthquake Safety Activities for Children and Teachers
Drop, Cover, and Hold Poster
The Adventures of Terry the Turtle and Gracie the Wonder Dog, Grades 3-6
Earthquake Publications for Teachers and Kids

• Are You Ready Full Document (PDF 21MB)

Separated by Sections

• Preface
• Why Prepare
• Basic Preparedness
  • Getting Informed
  • Emergency Planning and Checklists
  • Assemble Disaster Supplies Kit
  • Shelter
  • Hazard Specific Preparedness
  • Practicing and Maintaining Your Plan
• Natural Hazards
  • Floods
  • Tornadoes
  • Hurricanes
  • Thunderstorms and Lightning
  • Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
  • Extreme Heat
  • Earthquakes
  • Volcanoes
  • Landslide and Debris Flow (Mudslide)
  • Tsunamis
  • Fires
  • Wildfires
• Technological Hazards
  • Hazardous Materials Incidents
  • Household Chemical Emergencies
  • Nuclear Power Plants
• Terrorism
  • General Information about Terrorism
  • Explosions
  • Biological Threats
  • Chemical Threats
  • Nuclear Blast
  • Radiological Dispersion Device (RDD)
  • Homeland Security Advisory System
• Recovering from Disaster
• Appendix A: Water Conservation Tips
• Appendix B: Disaster Supplies Checklists
• Appendix C: Family Communications Plan (PDF 1.55MB)

New - The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) provides materials to support schools and families regarding the Haiti Earthquake Response and Recovery:

1. Tips for Parents on Media Coverage of the Earthquake (for families in the US)
2. Parent Guidelines for Helping Children after an Earthquake
3. Teacher Guidelines of Helping Students after an Earthquake
4. Guidance for School Personnel: Students Who Had a Loved One Die in the Earthquake
5. Guidance for Caregivers: Children or Teens who had a Loved One Die in the Earthquake

Haitian Earthquake in the News:

• Talking to kids about Haiti – Jan. 18, 2010 – CBS News – Explaining tragedies to kids... (video clip)
• Students respond to Haitian earthquake  Jan. 14, 2010 – Teacher Magazine - While the world watches horrific images of earthquake victims roll in from Haiti, a number of American students have taken relief matters into their own hands. …
• 5 Ways to teach about Haiti right now  New York Times - Jan 14, 2010 ... Yesterday we posted past Learning Network lesson plans that can be adapted for teaching about Haiti, along with links to New York Times resources. Today we add five easy ways to use The Times to teach about what’s happening as the story continues to unfold…
• Resources for teaching and learning about the earthquake in Haiti ...              Jan 13, 2010 – New York Times ... Lesson plans, articles, photographs, video and news updates for addressing the Haiti earthquake with students and children. ...

Communication Plan:

• Ready.gov: Make a Family Communications Plan... Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another ... [PDF] Family Communications Plan

More Resources:

• Earthquakes for Kids – (Earthquake Hazards Program) Includes various links for earthquake lessons.  http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/