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Children and Youth Preparedness Social Media Toolkit

How to Use this Toolkit

The Children and Youth Preparedness Toolkit has safety and preparedness messages you can share on your social media channels. You can either copy these messages directly or customize them to reach your audience.

What you should know about youth preparedness

  • Ensure children are included in preparedness conversations.
  • Learn the building blocks of preparedness − Be Informed, Make a Plan, Build a Kit and Get Involved.
  • Know the emergency plan for your child’s school and child care facility.
  • Practice evacuation plans and other emergency procedures with children on a regular basis.
  • Learn different ways to help children cope during and after an emergency.
  • Make sure children have emergency contacts memorized or written down in a secure place.
  • Teach kids when and how to call important phone numbers like 911.

Related Content

Social Media Messaging

Communication

  • BEFORE an emergency, teach your child how to dial 911. #YouthPrep
  • Make sure everyone, including children, knows how and when to call 911 for help. #YouthPrep
  • Make sure all family members know how to send a text message in case of an emergency. #YouthPrep
  • Who’s your emergency contact? Make sure the kids know who it is and practice with them. #ReadyKids
  • Practice how to communicate in an emergency with kids. Find ways here: https://www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan #YouthPrep
  • Update school records and discuss emergency contact numbers with kids before they go: https://www.ready.gov/collection/family-communication-plan #BackToSchool #YouthPrep
  • When the kids go #BacktoSchool update your family communication plan: https://www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan #YouthPrep
  • Add kids’ school social media info to the family communication plan: https://www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan #YouthPrep
  • Review your family emergency communications plan with kids at your next household meeting. #YouthPrep
  • Emergencies can happen anytime, and less than half of American families have a communication plan. Plan ahead: https://www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan. #ReadyKids
  • Spread the youth prep #YouthPrep message to friends & family! Be sure your family has an emergency communications plan: https://www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan.
  • Kids, parents, & educators, visit the Ready Kids web pages in Spanish: www.ready.gov/es/kids #YouthPrep

Emergency Kit

  • Include your child's medication or supplies in your family’s emergency kit. More tips visit: ready.gov/kit #YouthPrep
  • Include your child's favorite stuffed animals, board games, books or music in their emergency kit to comfort them in a disaster. #YouthPrep
  • Get the kids involved in building their own emergency kit: www.ready.gov/kids/build-a-kit  #YouthPrep
  • Kids bored? We can help. Check out our online Ready Kids Build a Kit game: https://www.ready.gov/kids/games  #YouthPrep
  • Kids can be a force#BeAForce... by playing the  emergency preparedness "Build a Kit" game: https://www.ready.gov/kids/games #YouthPrep

Parents

  • Need tips for talking to your kids about natural disasters? Visit www.ready.gov/kids/parents  #YouthPrep
  • Kids home today? Play Ready Kids emergency preparedness games: https://www.ready.gov/kids/games #YouthPrep
  • Store important family documents on your phone in a safe secure app. Keep hard copies in a secure place. #YouthPrep
  • Emergencies can happen anytime. Ensure your child is prepared for the unexpected by visiting Ready Kids at https://www.ready.gov/kids. 
  • Parents: Get the 4-1-1 on school safety during an emergency  http://bit.ly/2axHk6u.  #BacktoSchool #YouthPrep
  • Speak Up! Ask your child’s teacher about the plans the school has in place for emergencies. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/Pages/Actions-Schools-Are-Taking-to-Make-Themselves-Safer.aspx
  • Email, voice or text. What will your child’s school use to communicate during an emergency? Make a plan before a disaster and discuss with your kids. #YouthPrep
  • Many Americans aren’t familiar with their child’s school evacuation & reunification plans. Are you? #YouthPrep
  • Talk to your kids about what to do before, during and after a disaster. Know the facts: https://www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts #YouthPrep
  • Is your teen looking for ways to help before, during & after disasters? Try Teen CERT: https://www.ready.gov/community-emergency-response-team. #YouthPrep
  • Have kids? Ask your child's school for a copy of their emergency plan for you to keep at home & work. #YouthPrep
  • #BackToSchool tip: Create a backpack emergency card that your child can keep with them. #ReadyKids
  • Create a family password or phrase to prevent your child from going with a stranger. #YouthPrep
  • Allow children to be a part of the emergency planning process. #YouthPrep
  • Check out these tools to start your family emergency plan today: www.ready.gov/kids/make-a-plan. #YouthPrep
  • Does your school have a plan for tornadoes, earthquakes and other disasters? Make plans for all disasters by visiting Ready Kids at: https://www.ready.gov/kids/know-the-facts.
  • Does your child know how to do the Prep Step? Find out at this CDC site. #youthprep
  • Your kids can become Disaster Masters with this @Readygov preparedness game: https://www.ready.gov/kids/games #YouthPrep

Educators

Youth/Teens

Health Professionals

  • Connect with a trained counselor after a disaster by calling: 1-800-985-5990,#YouthPrep
  • Communication between public health/pediatrician leaders during a response to a public health emergency is crucial. #YouthPrep

Coping with Disaster

Last Updated: 03/20/2025

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