Natural Disasters

Parents have an important role in assuring the safety of their children whether at school or at home. Parents should teach their children what to do in an emergency and make sure they know their addresses and telephone numbers as well as the full names and contact information for parents and a second adult emergency contact. Teaching your children to be prepared will keep them safe during any future disasters.

In Montana, the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) leads the way on emergency preparedness and safety in schools. To learn more about how your school can prepare for natural disasters, visit the Emergency Planning and Safety page on the OPI's website.  

Wild Fires

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality provides up to date air quality information for communities throughout the state. Tools for schools including Recommendations for Outdoor Activities Based on Air Quality can also be found on the site.

• Wildfire Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools
  U.S. Department of Education Technical Assistance Center
• Wildfire curriculum resources for teachers- Project Learning Tree

Earthquakes

• Drop, Cover, and Hold On!
  Federal, state, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes.
• Earthquake Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities and Other Access or Functional Needs- Earthquake Country Alliance 
• Montana Earthquake Training- Part 1 (video)
• Montana Earthquake Training- Part 2 (video)
• The Great Montana ShakeOut
  The Great Montana ShakeOut is an annual opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes. This site drill manuals, audio/video drill broadcasting recordings, custom flyers for different audiences, and other educational resources.

Tornadoes

Teachers

• Sample Letter to Send Home to Parents
• Talking to a Grieving Child: A Guide for Classroom Teachers
• Teacher Guidelines for Helping Students after a Tornado- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• Tornadoes: Action Plan for Schools Dealing with the Death of a Student and/or Faculty

Family

• Parent Guidelines for Helping Children after a Tornado- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
• Questions to Ask Your Children About the Tornado- (NCTSN)
• Tips for Parents on Media Coverage of the Tornadoes- (NCTSN)
• Tips for Parents with School Age Children- (NCTSN)

Winter Storms

Children can be especially susceptible to the dangers associated with winter weather. Even if they are cold, wet or exhausted they often are not conscious of the potential impact these conditions could pose. School administrators, principals and teachers need to be aware of the dangers posed by winter weather. Emergency plans and procedures must be established or reviewed before the onset of the winter season to ensure children's safety.  

WINTER SAFETY PROCEDURES: Winter safety procedures for schools should include:

• A means of receiving current weather information
      -The National Weather Service (NWS) provides this information via NOAA Weather Radio and websites (see listing on page 9)
      -Commercial radio and television also air winter weather conditions
• Guidelines for children's outdoor activities
• Plans for closures, early dismissal or holding children and staff at school due to snow, ice or extreme cold
• Provisions for children who arrive earlier than usual or stay later than usual due to driving conditions parents may encounter

TRANSPORTATION–RELATED CONSIDERATIONS:

• Bus driver training for winter conditions
• Changes in routes (alternate) during winter conditions
• Procedures for altered school schedules
• Procedures to deal with stranded buses

A Guide to Developing a Severe Weather Emergency Plan For Schools- National Weather Service 

Winter Storms and Extreme Cold- Ready.gov

Floods

Children’s Health in the Aftermath of Floods- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Other General Resources

REMS Technical Assistance Center
The REMS TAC supports public and non-public schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education in school emergency management, including the development and implementation of comprehensive all-hazards emergency management plans. The TA Center disseminates information about school emergency management to help individual schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education learn more about developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive, all-hazards school emergency management plans.

Disclaimer: Resources on this page are accepted best practices throughout the country and the state of Montana. All school districts have their own emergency policies and procedures. Please consult your school officials for more information about your school’s emergency plan.