Material Listing

In the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. Department of Justice has asked the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to staff a hotline to take reports of missing children, missing adults, and found children. If you are searching for someone who is missing or are caring for a child who is separated from his or her family, please call the Katrina/Rita Missing Persons Hotline at 1-888-544-5475.

Natural disasters such as tornados, or man-made tragedies such as bombings, can leave children feeling frightened, confused, and insecure. Whether a child has personally experienced trauma or has merely seen the event on television or heard it discussed by adults, it is important for parents and teachers to be informed and ready to help if reactions to stress begin to occur. This guide is for parents, caregivers, and teachers.

Included are links to additional resources such as a series of public services announcements (PSAs) on mental health resources by community (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) provided by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Each downloadable audio file is voiced by Surgeon General Regina Benjamin and runs :30 seconds (transcripts are also available).

This paper highlights a number of emergency preparedness issues as they relate to violent crime and trauma and offers key recommendations to begin addressing gaps in victim services provision.

Additional Material includes:

• Bibliography - Gender Issues in Disaster: Selected Readings
• Appendix A - Disaster Planning for Shelters
• Appendix B - Planning Guidelines for Programs, Coalitions, and Disaster Practitioners

Background Sheets

• Surviving Violence and Disaster
• Does Domestic Violence Increase After Disaster?
• Women's Services in Disaster Contexts: Direct and Indirect Impacts

The job of parenting can become even more stressful after a natural disaster. These one-pagers provide information on healthy coping strategies to help parents regain a sense of control. Available in English and Spanish.

Violence or natural disasters can cause trauma in young people. This booklet provides steps parents can take to help children cope with trauma after violence and disasters.

This document provides answers to frequently asked questions as well as State and Federal links geared towards parents. Information also available in Spanish.

This one-pager provides several tips for adults coping with stress after a disaster. Available in English and Spanish.

Recovering after a natural disaster can be difficult and relationships can be strained. This one-pager provides several tips to help ease stress and maintain healthy relationships with those around you. Also available in Spanish.