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Immediate Post-Disaster Resources

These resources were designed to support early care and education programs immediately after an emergency or disaster event. For general information about emergency preparedness and response (EPR), visit the Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery page or contact a CCHC. If a CCHC cannot be reached, contact the NC Resource Center. 


This self-assessment is for early educators to help determine if a child care facility can open immediately following an emergency or disaster event. It should be completed only when it is safe to be on the grounds of and/or inside the child care facility. If uncertain, wait to conduct the self-assessment until it can be completed safely. Contact a child care consultant as soon as you are able so you can share 

Immediate Post-Disaster Self-Assessment [DOC]

Immediate Post-Disaster Self-Assessment [PDF]

Using your EPR Plan in Immediate Post-Disaster Recovery

To be prepared for an unexpected emergency, the child care facility’s EPR Plan should be up-to-date and available to all early educators in the Ready to Go File that is required by NC Child Care Rules. The Facilities Details section can minimize the need to search for additional information. Below are sections of the Facility Details that should be referenced:

  • Facility Details
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Plan Maintenance

In an immediate post-disaster situation, early educators should have the child care facility’s up-to-date EPR Plan as a quick reference during and after the emergency. The Facilities Details section can minimize the need to search for additional information. Below are subsections of the Facility Details that should be referenced.

Facility Details

Facility Information

  • Facility Address – a quick reference for when the facility address needs to be shared.
  • Enrollment information – enrollment information about the number of teachers, children by age group, and number of children and staff with special health care needs, including medications, special equipment needs, etc.
  • Utility information (including shutoff location and instructions) – a reference for instructions to where utilities need to be shut off to share with emergency service providers or repair workers.
  • Floor plan – a reference providing information about the building or space.

Contact Information

  • Emergency Contact – contact information for service providers such as emergency medical service (EMS) and poison control.
  • Agency Contact – contact information for local and state regulatory agency personnel, such as the Child Care (Licensing) Consultant and Environmental Health Specialist, for guidance on operation, etc.
  • Utility Services Contact – contact information for utilities, such as problems with water, electricity, and gas.
  • Repair and Restoration Services – contact information for professionals such as a plumber, electrician, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician, or carpenter.

For additional guidance or technical assistance contact a Child Care Health Consultant or EPR Trainer.

This tool was designed by the NC Division Of Public Health for Environmental Health Specialists and child care Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Leads to complete together to assess the impact and needs of a child care facility following an emergency.

Post-Disaster Child Care Center Sanitation Assessment Form [DOC]

Post-Disaster Child Care Center Sanitation Assessment Form [PDF]

Disaster Impact Reporting

When there is an emergency declaration or declaration of disaster impacting regulated child care in North Carolina, whether or not DCDEE receives funds, providers will be given an opportunity to complete a Disaster Impact Report.

From this report DCDEE can determine areas of need for support, and estimate the amount of funds to request from the Office of Child Care and have the documentation needed to support the request. DCDEE will also be able to determine how much money can be distributed to child care providers to help cover the costs associated with the disaster.

The Disaster Impact Report Portal:

  • Provides a method for regulated child care programs to report the impacts of declared disasters to DCDEE.
  • Provides information so that DCDEE can make funding determination if or when funding becomes available.
  • Distributes funds to regulated child care programs in response to disasters once funding has been received from any source and funding determinations have been made.
  • Provides data and evidence to state and federal government officials of the need for assistance or the need of a policy to address an issue.

Thinking Ahead

  • Save receipts and estimates for repairs, including damaged materials, supplies, vehicles, equipment, and/or renovation.
  • Document revenue lost and not covered by insurance, FEMA, or other financial assistance.
  • Gather information on insurance, both property and vehicle if impacted.
  • Document all financial assistance received, including FEMA funding.
  • Be prepared to share all information if a new structure is being built, including plans, location, description, and timeline.
  • Be prepared to report on the total amount of funding being requested.

Additional information from DCDEE on disaster recovery.

Resource Lists

Resources for Child Trauma Support

A one page guide to understand how to assist children in healing after a crisis. 

Strategies for early educators to manage stress among babies and toddlers when experiencing a wildfire in the area. 

A fact sheet that provides an overview of how media coverage of a disaster may affect a child and suggests strategies that families, caregivers, and early educators can use to address these effects. 

A Sesame Street guide to help families support each other during a crisis including recognizing signs of stress and helping children identify their emotions. It features stories and activities to calm children. 

Questions, developed by Sesame Street, to ask children to help build hope during uncertain, emergency, and traumatic situations. 

A Sesame Street interactive guide for adults to help young children cope with an emergency. There are suggestions and directions for games and activities that can keep children occupied during an emergency. 

A Sesame Street article detailing how trauma responses can look in children depending on their age and stage of development. Being able to recognize these responses can assist families, caregivers, and early educators with how to manage them.

A document to aid in supporting young children during and after an emergency by helping adults understand a child’s behavior, communicate effectively, and ensure their own mental health is intact. 

A one page guide with strategies for parents, caregivers, and early educators to use during an emergency to help manage stress in their child(ren). 

A one page guide summarizing the signs of trauma and distress a child may show during an emergency and how to give support based on each sign. 

A guide to start conversations with children about emergencies involving shooting. Included are suggestions for reducing child stress while acknowledging the feelings that may arise. 

Guidance on strategies to manage stress and properly communicate violent situations to toddlers and young children. 

Resources for Adult Trauma Support

A hotline to talk with a crisis outreach worker for anyone experiencing stress, fatigue, or mental health crises during a hurricane. 

An article with steps for families, caregivers, and early educators to take to regulate their own emotions and manage stress day-to-day that can also be helpful in an emergency. 

This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. 

A Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration app containing disaster response resources and a directory of nearby behavioral health responders for families, caregivers, early educators, and more.

A one page guide with tips and suggestions for how parents, caregivers, and early educators can check in with themselves and reduce stress during an emergency. 

These resources provide valuable support, helping adults manage their own responses while creating a protective, nurturing environment for young children who may have experienced gun violence. 

Safely feeding infants and young children during emergencies can protect them from getting sick and make sure they still get enough nutrients. For more information about infant and young child feeding in emergencies (IYCF-E), contact a CCHC.

A CDC fact sheet with answers to questions about infant and young child feeding during an emergency, specific to breast milk and infant formula.

A CDC guide explaining how early educators and families can still ensure infant feeding materials like bottles, nipples, and pacifiers stay clean during emergencies, especially if clean water is unavailable.

A guide for anyone that needs to quickly prepare infant formula in an emergency.

A CDC infographic with guidance on ways for early educators and families to make water safer to use and drink after an emergency impacts water cleanliness.

A CDC guide on preparing and storing infant formula when clean tap water is unavailable due to an emergency.

A CDC article for early educators and families with answers to common questions about feeding infants and young children during an emergency related to breast milk and infant formula preparation, storage, and feeding.

A quick assessment to be used by early educators to determine the need for infant and young child feeding support and materials in an emergency.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 for free, private support. Anyone can call 988 or (800) 273-8255 to speak with a counselor who will listen, offer support, and provide local resources.

Find an overview of drinking water advisories and boil water advisories. After a disaster, check for service alerts from your water company to determine if there are local advisories or notices.

Find guidance on keeping food safe during a power outage and preventing illness from unsafe food. View a PDF of this page.

NC 211 is an information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina. Anyone can call 2-1-1 or (888) 892-1162 to receive free and confidential information on health and human services within their community.

Find information and resources about health and safety after severe weather or other disasters including:

    • Drinking Water
    • Flood and Safety Clean-up
    • Preventing Post-Storm Infections
    • Mold Clean-up and Removal
    • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
    • Septic Tanks
    • Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Young Children
    • Food and Medicine
    • Mosquitoes
    • Wildlife

Find information about water safety after a disaster, including the following resources:

    • Emergency Water Plan Guidance: Defines water safety alerts, including boil water advisories, boil water notices, and do not use alerts/do not drink orders.
    • System Pressure Advisory Factsheet: What to do during a system pressure advisory, when low water pressure or an outage may allow bacteria to enter the water system.
    • Private Well Water Safety Measures and Disinfection: Factsheet on what to do with a private well before and after flooding.

The NC Peer Warmline is available 24/7 to talk for free to a peer support specialist with personal experiences with mental health or substance use issues. Anyone can call 855-PEERS-NC or (855) 733-7762 to talk about any topic.

In an emergency, sleeping conditions may be unpredictable. Follow safe sleep steps to keep young children safe during a crisis.

Gillings School of Global Public Health