In an emergency, thorough preparation is key to an effective response. Missouri’s child care providers, large and small, licensed or non-licensed, need to be prepared for any type of emergency. Ready in 3 outlines steps you can take now to prepare your facilities, staff and the individuals in your care.

The Family Safety Guide provides detailed information on the three steps in preparing in advance of any emergency. The guide is available in print in English, Spanish, Bosnian and Braille and electronically in Romanian and RussianOrder Family Safety Guides for your staff and families you serve today!

Child Care Administrators / Managers

Having a plan for responding to emergencies is important for everyone. We encourage you to use the Family Safety Guide’s emergency kit checklist to stock emergency kits for each of your classrooms.

Please consider distributing Family Safety Guides and Bookmark to the families you serve, when you conduct tornado and fire drills and when new families enroll with your facility. We hope you will use the video, as a step-by-step guide to preparing for emergencies along with the Family Safety Guide for educating your staff and activities for educating children in your care.

Child care providers can use the youth activities to help children learn about preparing for emergencies. Activities are available for all ages.

The Child Care Health Consultant at your local health department is prepared to assist you with Disaster Preparedness. Please contact your local health department or the Bureau of Child Care at 573-751-2450 for assistance in creating your disaster plans.

Parents

Many child care providers have their own emergency plans. Your child care providers should have current contact information for you and another family member.  Make sure that the home, work, and cellular telephone numbers they have for you are up-to-date.

It’s important to ask your child care provider how they will contact you if there is an emergency. You should also know what steps will be taken to protect the children. Some questions you might consider asking include:

  • How will you reach me if there’s an emergency?
  • Do you practice fire, earthquake, tornado and terrorism drills on a routine basis?
  • Is there enough water and food stored at the day care for all the children?
  • What first-aid supplies are at the facility?
  • Are the care givers and administrators prepared to shelter in place?
  • Do you have a plan to separate those students who may have been exposed to chemicals, bacteria, or viruses from others?
  • Where will the children be taken if they must evacuate the facility?

Emergency Response Information Portal logo