Module 15: Community Violence and Disaster Response: Supporting Youth and Families - Resources for Providers, Families, and Educators

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• Community Violence Resources

  1) San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE): 

  • Resources for educators and families to discuss mass shootings
  • Workshops & trainings on school safety for school employees
  • Letter to parents with resources to respond to global issues

   

  2) National Association of School Psychologists (NASP): 

  • Talking to children about violence – tips for families and teachers

   

  3) National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): 

  • For families: coping after mass violence
  • For teens: coping after mass violence
  • Resources for children, families, and educators following traumatic events

   

  4) SAMHSA: 

  • Tips for survivors – coping with grief after community violence
  • Tips for talking with and helping children and youth cope after a disaster: A guide for parents, caregivers, and teachers

   

  5) California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services: 

  • Disaster recovery assistance and services

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• Tips for Staying Safe During Wildfires

  Before:

  • Identify multiple evacuation routes and practice your household’s evacuation plan.
  • Monitor local fire conditions and register for local emergency alerts.
  • Prepare emergency supplies and  make plans for children, individuals with disabilities, older adults, and pets.
    
    

  During:

  • Follow evacuation orders immediately and use designated evacuation routes.
  • Monitor official emergency information and avoid areas affected by fire or smoke.
  • In areas where you smell, see, or sense smoke, limit physical activity and stay indoors when possible to limit your exposure.
  • If you are advised to stay indoors, keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot outside.
    
    

  After:

  • Return only when emergency officials say it is safe.
  • Continue monitoring for changing conditions, hazards, and additional evacuation notices.

   

• Wildfire Resources

  San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE):

  • School Protection and Evacuation Plan for Wildfires
  • Compressive School Safety Plan Resources
  • Wildfire Preparedness Resource Guide
  • Letter to parents/guardians with school safety update and preparedness resources
  • Letter to parents/guardians about high winds/wildfire preparation

   

  National Association of School Psychologists (NASP):

  • Helping Children after Wildfire
  • Responding to Natural Disasters: Helping Children and Families – Information for School Teams
  • Helping Children After a Wildfire: Tips for Parents and Teachers

   

  Alert San Diego:

  • Register your cell phone and email address to receive evacuation orders, warnings, protective actions, and disaster information.
  • Download the SD Emergency App for the latest emergency updates in English and Spanish.

   

  The Burn Institute:

  • Provides family and community resources in English and Spanish focused on homefire and burn prevention, wildfire safety, and family fire escape planning.

   

  Red Cross:

  • Survival Kit Supplies
  • Teaching Kids About Emergency Preparedness

   

• Tips for Staying Safe During Floods
  • Monitor official weather and emergency updates using a battery-powered or backup-powered device.
  • Develop an evacuation plan and identify a safe route to higher ground.
  • Sign up for local emergency alerts.
  • Follow evacuation orders immediately.
  • Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters.

   

• Flood Resources

  For Schools:

  • The California Department of Education provides information and resources to help districts and schools prepare for flooding.
  • Ready.gov  has kid-friendly tips to help prepare for floods and other natural disasters.
  • A Kid-Friendly Guide to Handling a Weather Emergency While at School

   

  For the Community:

  • The County of San Diego has a list of locations where you can pick up sandbags.
  • ReadySanDiego offers tips on how to prepare for flooding and other safety resources.
  • The National Weather Service provides safety tips for hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other hazards.
    

   

• Tips for Preparing for an Earthquake

  During an earthquake or aftershocks:

  • Drop, Cover, and Hold On (For tips on how to do this with a cane, walker or wheelchair, watch the instructional video).
  • If you are driving, safely pull over and stop. Stay inside your vehicle.
  • If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
  • If you are outdoors, stay outside and move away from buildings and power lines.
  • If you are indoors, stay inside and do not run outside.
  • If you smell, hear, or notice signs of a gas leak, open windows and doors if you can do safely, leave immediately, and report it to emergency officials.  

   

  After an earthquake:

  • Expect aftershocks. Some aftershocks may be stronger than the initial earthquake.
  • Wear sturdy shoes and check for injuries and hazards. The U.S. Geological Survey provides a good checklist.
  • Follow @USGS_Quakes for updates.
  • Sign up for the MyShake app on your mobile device to receive earthquake early warning alerts.

   

• Earthquake Resources

  For Schools:

  • The Great Shakeout provides preparedness materials and activities for students. 
  • The California Department of Education offers a variety of information and resources to help districts and schools prepare for an earthquake.

   

  For the Community:

  • SD Emergency is the County's free mobile app includes preparedness tools and provides alerts, updates, and maps during an emergency.
  • The American Red Cross provides resources on preparing for earthquakes and staying safe during and after.