Contents

1. BASE LESSON HANDOUTS ................................................................................................ 1

Preparing for Emergencies .................................................................................................... 3

Disaster Supplies: At Home and Away..................................................................................11

2. HAZARD UNIT HANDOUTS ................................................................................................13

Home Safety Checklist .........................................................................................................15

Escape Plan .........................................................................................................................16

3. SUPPLEMENTAL HANDOUTS ............................................................................................17

Student Reading Resource List ............................................................................................19

Newspaper Headlines—Student Handout .............................................................................21

Emergency Role Play Scenarios—Student Handout .............................................................23

Planning Crossword—Student Handout ................................................................................25

Math Worksheet—Student Handout .....................................................................................27

Adventures of the Disaster Dodgers Game ...........................................................................29

4. STEP CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION ..............................................................................45

5. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS .....49

1. BASE LESSON HANDOUTS 

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3

Preparing for Emergencies 

Name: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________________ 

You have the opportunity to help your family complete a family emergency communication plan 

and put together a disaster supply kit by following these easy steps: 

STEP 1: Be informed. Learn about what kinds of disasters or emergencies can affect your 

area. Go to www.ready.gov/kids and click on the “See What’s Happening in Your State!” button. 

Some other sources for information include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/kids) and the U.S. Geological Survey 

(www.earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids). And you can ask grown-ups you know to tell you what 

they have experienced. 

List potential local disasters and emergencies here: 

1.

2.

3.

Sign up for alerts and warnings. Be sure that each person in your family signs up for local 

weather alerts so they will be notified in the event of an emergency. To find out what alerts are 

available in your area, you can do an Internet search with your town, city, or county name and 

the word “alerts”; you can go to the website for your local emergency management or public 

safety office; or you can contact these offices by telephone. 

STEP 2: Make a plan. Plan for how family members will communicate and reconnect if a 

disaster happens. Write this information on your Family Emergency Communication Plan Cards. 

Collect contact information for every member of your household. This information will 

help you get in touch with each other if there is an emergency. 

Identify a person who lives outside of the area and whom you can all text or call to help 

you reconnect. You might not be in the same place as the rest of your family when a 

disaster or emergency occurs. 

Decide where your family will meet after a disaster if there is a fire or other emergency 

and you need to leave your home. The meeting place could be a big tree, a mailbox at 

the end of the driveway, or a neighbor’s house. 

Decide where your family will meet if a disaster happens when you’re not at home and 

you can’t get back to your home. This could be a library, community center, house of 

worship, or family friend’s home.

You should also include other important information and phone numbers on your Family 

Emergency Communication Plan Card. Examples of important information are any 
4

allergies or medications. Examples of other important phone numbers are your doctor’s 

office or your pet’s veterinarian.

 Make sure all family members keep a copy of their Family Emergency Communication 

Plan Card in their backpack, purse, or wallet. You should also hang a copy on the 

refrigerator, along with emergency phone numbers for police, fire, and poison control. 

Family Emergency Communication Plan Cards 

Every member of the family should carry a copy of this important information. To fill out 

your card online, go to: www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/94715. 
..............................................#: 

.

Family Emergency Communication Plan

Write your family’s name above

HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION

Home #: .

Address: .........................................................................................................

Name: .Mobile #: .

Other # or social media: . Email: .

Important medical or other information: .

Name: ....................................................Mobile #: .

Other # or social media: . Email: .

Important medical or other information ........................................................

Name: .Mobile #: .

Other # or social media: . Email: ........................................

Important medical or other information: .......................................................

Name: .Mobile #: .

Other # or social media: . Email: .

Important medical or other information: .

SCHOOL, CHILDCARE , CAREGIVER, AND WORKPLACE EMERGENCY PLANS

Name: ..........................................................................................................

Address: .

Emergency/Hotline #: .Website: .

Emergency Plan/Pick-Up: ..............................................................................

Name: .............................................................................................................

Address: .........................................................................................................

Emergency/Hotline #: ............................Website: .......................................

Emergency Plan/Pick-Up: ..............................................................................

Name: .............................................................................................................

Address: .

Emergency/Hotline #: ................................Website: .

Emergency Plan/Pick-Up: .

Name: .

Address: .

Emergency/Hotline #: ................................Website: .

FOLD < > HERE

FOLD < > HERE

Emergency Plan/Pick-Up: ..............................................................................

FOLD <HERE>

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY (ICE) CONTACT

Name: . Mobile #: ..............................................

Home #: .......................................... Email: ..

Address: .........................................................................................................

OUT-OF-TOWN CONTACT

Name: . Mobile #: ..............................................

Home #: .......................................... Email: ...

Address: .........................................................................................................

EMERGENCY MEETING PLACES

Indoor: ............................................................................................................

Instructions: ...................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

Neighborhood: ...............................................................................................

Instructions: ...................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

Out-of-Neighborhood: ...................................................................................

Address: .

Instructions: ...................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

Out-of-Town: ..................................................................................................

Address: .........................................................................................................

Instructions: ...................................................................................................

.........................................................................................................................

IMPORTANT NUMBERS OR INFORMATION

Police: .Dial 911 or #: .

Fire: ...............................................Dial 911 or #: ..........................................

Poison Control: ................................................#: ..........................................

Doctor: .#: ..........................................

Doctor: ............................................................#: ..........................................

Pediatrician: ..#: ..........................................

Dentist: .#: ..........................................

Medical Insurance: ..........................................#: ..........................................

Policy #: ..........................................................................................................

Medical Insurance: .#: ..........................................

Policy #: .

Hospital/Clinic: ................................................#: ..........................................

Pharmacy: .#: .

Homeowner/Rental Insurance: .......................#: .

Policy #: ..........................................................................................................

Flood Insurance:.

Policy #: ..........................................................................................................

Veterinarian: ....................................................#: ..........................................

Kennel: .#: ..........................................

Electric Company: .#: .

Gas Company: .................................................#: .

Water Company: .............................................#: ..........................................

Alternate/Accessible Transportation:.. #: ...............................

Other: .

Other: .

<FOLD

HERE>

7

Optional: Draw a map that shows your neighborhood meeting place and out-of-neighborhood 

meeting place. Put a Δ to show your home. Put a Ο to show your neighborhood meeting place 

and label it. Put an X to mark your out-of-neighborhood meeting spot and label it.

Δ Home

Ο Neighborhood Meeting 

Place

X Out-of-Neighborhood 

Meeting Place
8

STEP 3: Build a disaster supply kit. Work with your family to assemble and update the 

supplies you would need if you were home with no power or water for several days and the 

items you would need to take with you if you needed to evacuate. To be ready for evacuation, 

store basic emergency supplies in a “go bag” or other container that you can grab quickly, and 

plan in advance what other items you will need to take. Make sure you have items for family 

members with special needs, and don’t forget your pets! The handout “Disaster Supplies: At 

Home and Away” can help you come up with other ideas for what to include in your disaster 

supply kit. Remember to replace old food and water with newer items when necessary. 

STEP 4: Practice your plan. Schedule regular times during the year to go over and practice 

your family emergency communication plan. 

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Review contact information for family members and your out-of-town contact. 

Make sure all family members know how to text in case calls do not go through. 

Make sure everyone in the family knows how and when to call 9-1-1.

Review the location of your neighborhood and out-of-neighborhood meeting place and 

practice going there.

Review the location of your disaster supply kit and update the contents. 

Check to make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors are working 

and hold a family evacuation drill. 
9

Option: In the box below, pick a date to practice your plan. After you practice, write a sentence 

or two about what went well and what your family can do better next time.

Practice date: _______________________________________________________________

What went well: 

________________________________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________ 

What we can improve:

________________________________________________________________________________ 

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________ 

11

Disaster Supplies: At Home and Away 

Name: _________________________________________ Date: ___________________________ 

In some situations, the safest place to be is at home. But, because disasters can cause power 

and water outages, you may not have electricity for your lights, refrigerator, stove, air 

conditioning, or heat, and you may not be able to get any water from the tap. Disasters can also 

interrupt transportation, which means you may not be able to go to a store for food or water. In 

other disasters, the safest option is to leave your home and get outside of the area—this is 

called evacuating. 

The Disaster Supplies Checklist below shows a list of items that are in many homes. Think 

about what your family would need if you had to stay inside your home for a week or more 

without power or running water. Think about family members, pets, and service animals that 

might need special food, extra water, or other special items. 

Next, consider which of these items you would need to take with you if you had to evacuate. 

These are the items you should keep in a “go bag”—a bag you can carry easily. Keep your go 

bag in a place where you can easily grab it if you have to leave quickly. 

Use this list to assemble a disaster supply kit and go bag with your family. And, remember to 

check your supplies periodically and keep them up-to-date. 

Be prepared to discuss why these items are important in class. 

DISASTER SUPPLIES CHECKLIST

Communication/Information 

 Family emergency communication 

plan; emergency contact phone 

numbers and out-of-area contacts 

 Cell phone, hand-crank charger or 

extra battery, car charger

 Radio (hand-crank or with extra 

batteries) 

 Whistle to signal for help

Medical Needs 

 Prescription and nonprescription/overthe-counter medicines (for at least one 

week) 

 Extra eyeglasses/contact lenses and 

prescriptions 

 Medical equipment/assistive 

technology with backup batteries 

 First aid kit 

(www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/getkit/anatomy) 

Important Documents (stored in 

waterproof/fireproof container or electronically) 

 Copies of the following: photo 

identification for all family members, 

pets, and service animals; passports; 

birth certificates

 Insurance policies 

 Proof of address; deed or lease to 

home 

 Bank account records 

 Medical records, including copies of 

insurance cards, immunizations, and 

prescriptions 

 Pet/service animal immunization 

records 

 Family and household contacts 

(family, schools, employers, doctors, 

and medical service providers; home 

repair services) 
12

Food and Water 

 Water in the home—Store at least one 

gallon per person per day for at least 

three days 

 Water for go bag—As much bottled 

water that can be reasonably carried 

or put in your vehicle 

 Method to purify water (bleach, 

purification tablets, purification kit) 

 Nonperishable or canned food for at 

least three days (food that doesn’t 

need to be cooked is best) 

 Special dietary needs for family 

members, such as baby food and food 

for pets/service animals 

 Non-electric can opener 

 Paper cups and plates, plastic utensils 

or mess kit, bowls for pets/service 

animals 

Hygiene and Sanitation 

 Plastic garbage bags and ziplock bags 

 Soap/disinfectant/sanitizer 

 Paper towels/moist towelettes 

 Toilet paper (diapers, if needed)

 Feminine needs 

 Toothbrush and toothpaste 

Clothing and Bedding 

 Extra clothes 

 Sturdy shoes, dust mask, safety 

glasses, work gloves (for protection 

when cleaning up any damage) 

 Rain gear 

 Blanket or sleeping bag 

Tools and Functional Items 

 Cash (when power is out, ATMs and 

credit card readers do not work) 

 Flashlight (hand-crank or with extra 

batteries) 

 Smoke detector (with strobe light, if 

needed)/carbon monoxide monitor 

 Fire extinguisher 

 USB car charger and DC/AC adapter 

 Wrench or pliers and multipurpose 

tool; scissors 

 Matches in waterproof container or 

lighter 

 Plastic sheeting; duct tape 

 Local map 

 Permanent marker, pens, and paper 

 Pet/service animal carrier and leash 

Special and Priceless Items 

 Entertainment: cards, book, puzzle, or 

game 

 Favorite stuffed toy 

 Photo albums, pictures

 Valuables
2. HAZARD UNIT HANDOUTS 

Home Safety Checklist

Smoke Alarms

□ There is one smoke alarm on every level of the 

home and inside and outside each sleeping area.

□ Smoke alarms are tested and cleaned monthly.

□ Smoke alarm batteries are changed as needed. 

□ Smoke alarms are less than 10 years old.

Cooking Safety

□ Cooking area is free from items that can catch fire.

□ Kitchen stove hood is clean and vented to the outside.

□ Pots are not left unattended on the stove.

Electrical & Appliance Safety

□ Electrical cords do not run under rugs.

□ Electrical cords are not frayed or cracked.

□ Circuit-protected, multi-prong adapters are used for 

additional outlets.

□ Large and small appliances are plugged directly 

into wall outlets.

□ Clothes dryer lint filter and venting system are 

clean.

Candle Safety

□ Candles are in sturdy fire-proof containers that 

won’t be tipped over.

□ All candles are extinguished before going to bed or 

leaving the room.

□ Children and pets are never left unattended with 

candles.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

□ Carbon monoxide alarms are located on each level 

of the home.

□ Carbon monoxide alarms are less than 7 years old.

Smoking Safety

□ Family members who smoke only buy fire-safe 

cigarettes and smoke outside.

□ Matches and lighters are secured out of 

children’s sight.

□ Ashtrays are large, deep and kept away from 

items that can catch fire.

□ Ashtrays are emptied into a container that will 

not burn.

Heating Safety

□ Chimney and furnace are cleaned and 

inspected yearly.

□ Furniture and other items that can catch fire 

are at least 3 feet from fireplaces, wall heaters, 

baseboards, and space heaters.

□ Fireplace and barbecue ashes are placed outdoors 

in a covered metal container at least 3 feet from 

anything that can catch fire.

□ Extension cords are never used with space heaters.

□ Heaters are approved by a national testing laboratory 

and have tip-over shut-off function.

Home Escape Plan

□ Have two ways out of each room.

□ Know to crawl low to the floor when escaping to 

avoid toxic smoke.

□ Know that once you’re out, stay out. 

□ Know where to meet after the escape.

□ Meeting place should be near the front of your 

home, so firefighters know you are out.

□ Practice your fire escape plan.

U.S. Fire Administration

www.usfa.fema.gov
If you have children and want to make this a family activity:

•	 Make a map of your home. Mark a door and a window that can be used to

get out of every room.

•	 Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where

everyone can meet once they’ve escaped and where firefighters can see

you and know you are out. Draw a picture of your outside meeting place

on your escape plan.

•	 Write the emergency telephone number for the fire department on your

escape plan.

•	 Sound the smoke alarm, and practice your escape drill with everyone in

your home.

•	 Keep your escape plan on the refrigerator, and practice the drill twice a

year or whenever anyone in your home celebrates a birthday.

If your family is all adults:

•	 Walk through your home, and identify two ways out of each room.

•	 Choose a meeting place outside in front of your home. This is where

everyone can meet once they’ve escaped and where firefighters can

see you and know you are out.

•	 Make sure everyone knows the emergency number for your local

fire department.

•	 Practice your escape drill twice a year.

U.S. Fire Administration

www.usfa.fema.gov
3. SUPPLEMENTAL HANDOUTS 

19

Student Reading Resource List 

The list below identifies several books related to disasters and emergency planning. This list is 

in alphabetical order by title. Age levels vary from 3 to 12 to ensure that books are available to 

students of varying reading abilities. Feel free to choose from this list or add your own books to 

this list. 

You will want to refer to this list if you assign your students “Disasters Hot Off the Press: 

Newspaper-Style Writing Lesson.” You also might do the following: 

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Have students design their posters or give brief presentations about their choice of book; 

Ask the librarian to create a special section in the library featuring some of these books; 

and

Share this list with parents and guardians when you announce the STEP program. 

1. Blizzard: The Storm that Changed America, by Jim Murphy. Ages 9‒12. This book 

provides an historical account of the blizzard of 1888 that hit the East Coast and how 

people survived. 

2. Day of Blizzard, by Marietta Moskin. Grades 3‒5. Katie braves New York City’s great 

1888 blizzard. 

3. Emergency Animal Rescue Stories: True Stories about People Dedicated to Saving 

Animals from Disasters, by Terri Crisp. Unspecified reading level. A dedicated 

Emergency Animal Rescue Services team saves animals from well-known natural and 

manmade disasters. 

4. Floods, by Emma Durham and Mark Maslin (Restless Planet). Ages 9‒12. This book 

includes colorful diagrams and fact boxes that highlight famous disasters throughout 

history. 

5. Forest Fires: Natural Disasters, by Luke Thompson. Ages 9‒12. This fact-filled book 

explains how and why forest fires occur. 

6. “Help!” Yelled Maxwell, by James and Edwina Stevenson. Ages 9‒12. When a flood 

threatens the town, third-grader Maxwell finds help in an unlikely place and becomes a 

hero. 

7. Hurricane, by David Wiesner. Ages 4‒8. A giant storm is experienced through a child’s 

perspective. Two boys turn their hurricane-torn backyard into an adventure land. 

8. I’ll Know What to Do: A Kid’s Guide to Natural Disasters, by Bonnie S. Mark, Aviva 

Layton, and Michael Chesworth. Ages 9‒12. This book provides facts about natural 

disasters, as well as tips on prevention, safety, and what to do in case disaster strikes. 

9. No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids and Dragons, by Jean Pendziwol and Martine 

Gourbault. Ages 3‒8. This book provides a low-key approach to fire safety for kids. 

10. Rescue, by Claire Watts (Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Books). Ages 9‒12. A reference 

book that teaches children about emergency rescues. It includes information on how to 

survive until help arrives. 

11. Rising Waters, by Rick Thomas. Ages 4‒9. This book is about floods. 
20

12. Storm of Spirit, by Nancy Martin-Rouse. Unspecified reading level. This is a tribute to 

children and families who have survived natural disasters. 

13. The Big Flood, by Wendy Pfeffer and Vanessa Lubach. Ages 4‒8. This is a story of how 

one community responded when the Mississippi River flooded in 1993. 

14. The Big Wave, by Pearl S. Buck. Ages 9‒12. This is the famous story of a Japanese boy 

who must face life after experiencing the tidal wave destruction of his family and village. 

15. The Blizzard Voices—Poems, by Ted Kooser. Unspecified reading level. This is a 

collection of poetry about the blizzard of 1888. 

16. The Finches’ Fabulous Furnace, by Roger W. Drury. Ages 9‒12. This tells the story of a 

family whose home has a natural furnace—a volcano—that they must keep secret from 

their neighbors. 

17. The Magic School Bus Series 

a. Inside a Hurricane, by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. Ages 4‒8. A tropical storm 

catches the Magic School Bus inside the eye of its hurricane, providing first-hand 

information on changes taking place in air, sea, and land. 

b. Others from this series: 

i. To the Rescue: Blizzard, by Judith Stamper. Grades 3‒5. This is a fictional story 

about a science class and their teacher who help rescue survivors stranded 

during a blizzard. 

ii. Forest Fire, by Anne Capeci. Grades 3‒5. This is a fictional story of a class field 

trip to explore the effects of forest fires. 

iii. Earthquake, by Gail Herman. Grades 3‒5. This is a fictional story of a class that 

experiences an earthquake. 

18. Twister on Tuesday (The Magic Tree House Series), by Mary Pope Osborne. Ages 6–8. 

This is a fictional story about two children who experienced a tornado in 1870. 

19. The Wild Weather Series 

c. Blizzards!, by Lorraine J. Hopping. Grades 2‒3. This book describes the effects of 

and provides historical facts related to blizzards. 

d. Lightning!, by Lorraine J. Hopping. Grades 1‒4. This book gives details on lightning 

and the positive and negative effects it can have. 

e. Hurricanes!, by Lorraine J. Hopping. Ages 4‒8. This book explains what hurricanes 

are, how they form, and how they are studied. 

f. Volcanoes!, by Eric Arnold. Ages 7‒9. This book describes what volcanoes are and 

some of the famous eruptions in history. 

20. Tornadoes, by Seymour Simon. Ages 4‒8. This book explains how and why tornadoes 

form, how they behave, how scientists predict and track them, and what to do to protect 

yourself. 
21

Newspaper Headlines—Student Handout 

Stories about disasters and what disasters do to communities appear frequently in the 

newspaper. Reading these stories can encourage families to be prepared. 

Read the story descriptions below and then write a headline for each. Remember that 

news items need a short but attention-grabbing headline. Your goal is to make people want to 

read your story by telling them in an interesting way what the story is about. Try to write each 

headline in about four to five words.

1. Last night, there was a fire in an apartment building. Several families had to leave their 

homes, but no one was hurt. 

Headline: 

2. The National Weather Service predicts a busy hurricane season. The Service also said that 

people who live near the water are coming up with ways to protect their homes and 

belongings. 

Headline: 

3. The owner of a nearby chemical plant wants to talk to the community about emergency 

planning. She has some items to hand out, and there will be fun things for kids to do. 

Headline: 

4. Last month’s flooding caused a lot of damage and closed roads. The department of 

transportation had to do a lot of work to the road, but the road will reopen tomorrow. The 

community is invited to an emergency planning fair tomorrow night to learn about what the 

department did to fix the road and how to prepare for floods. 

Headline: 

23

Emergency Role Play Scenarios—Student Handout 

Directions for Students 

Plan how you could act out the following scenarios. Write an outline of a performance. Plan to 

demonstrate exactly what to do and possibly what not to do in each emergency situation. 

Practice and put on the performance skit for your classmates. 

1. There is a soccer game in progress when thunder is heard in the distance. What do you do? 

[Roles may include one to three soccer players, a coach, and a parent] 

2. A family is sleeping when the smoke detector goes off at 3 a.m. What do you do? [Roles 

may include parents, siblings, and sleepover guests] 

3. It has been a stormy winter and big piles of snow are lying on the flat roof of an apartment 

building. A firefighter pounds on the door and says the building must be evacuated. What do 

you do? [Roles may include parents, siblings, a firefighter, and neighbors] 

4. Freezing rain and ice caused tree limbs to fall and neighborhood electrical lines to break. 

The home has no power. What do you do? [Roles may include parents, family members, 

and neighbors] 

5. The teacher is giving a history lesson when the room begins to shake. What do you do? 

[Roles may include a teacher, a student teacher or aide, and students] 

6. The radio says a big, dangerous hurricane is heading toward your part of the state. What do 

you do? [Roles may include a radio announcer, family members, and neighbors] 

7. It has been raining for days and there is water everywhere. Water is running swiftly down 

the street two blocks from your home and a police officer tells you that you cannot go any 

closer to your home. What do you do? [Roles may include students, a police officer, 

neighbors, and family members] 

25

Planning Crossword—Student Handout 

Name: Date: 

Down:

1. Instead of candles, which could be 

dangerous, add this item to your disaster 

supply kit.

3. This item is important in your disaster 

supply kit because you may need 

something to keep you warm in case the 

heat goes out.

4. In this emergency, you should immediately 

get outside when you smell smoke or hear 

an alarm.

6. This accompanies thunder in a large 

rainstorm.

8. When visiting the dentist, ask for an extra 

one of these for your disaster supply kit.

10. This emergency is caused by too much 

snow melting or too much rain falling for 

the rivers and ground to hold.

12. Every family should gather water, food, 

batteries, and other supplies for their 

disaster supply .

Across:

2. Family members can write contact numbers on a family emergency communication plan 

to carry around with them in a pocket or wallet.

5. Each family should designate a outside the home in case of an emergency. 

(2 words)

7. If you have a pet at home, you should put pet food, extra water, a picture of you and your pet, and 

any pet they may need in your disaster supply kit.

9. During a lightning storm, the worst place to stand is under a tall object, such as a .

11. To prevent spoiling in your disaster supply kit, look for food found in this.

13. It is important for family members to be able to during an emergency.

14. This is a very strong and often long-lasting winter storm with snow, wind, and ice.

On the back of this sheet, rewrite each sentence using the correct punctuation.

1. The boy put gauze Band-Aids and tweezers in his first aid kit.

2. Lizzy wrote down the phone numbers of her doctor, fire department, and school?

Circle the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. The teacher let (we, us) bring in pictures of our disaster supply kits.

2. Mom told us about the big storm and asked (we, us) to update our disaster supply kit.

3. It is not (good, well) to panic when an emergency occurs.

4. The batteries (can, may) run out. We should pack some extras in case they do.

5. The family’s out-of-neighborhood meeting place was at the (peak, peek) of the hill.

27

Math Worksheet—Student Handout 

Name: Date: 

5 

10

15

20

25

30

35 

0 

Hurricane Fire Tornado Flood 

Plainville County 

The bar graph to the left shows the number of 

natural disasters that affected Plainville 

County over the last 50 years. Use this chart 

to answer the questions below.

1. What is the most common disaster for 

Plainville County?

2. How many hurricanes hit Plainville 

County?

3. How many tornadoes?

4. How many more fires than hurricanes hit 

Plainville County?

5. If you lived in Plainville County, what are some things you would want to do to prepare you 

and your family for a natural disaster? 

 

 

Word Problems (use the back of this sheet if you have to)

1. The superintendent of the school district decided that it was important to order an 

emergency planning booklet for all of her students. She found out that the elementary 

school had 1,356 students. The middle school had 2,543 students and the high school had 

4,320 students. How many emergency planning booklets should the superintendent order? 

2. The chief of police met with the town officials to determine if the river would flood the town 

when the snow melted this spring. “The river is currently in normal range, measuring 32 

inches,” said the director of public works. “For the river to flood, it will have to measure 38 

inches or more.”

“By my estimation, we have about 25.4 centimeters of snow that will melt directly into the 

river,” said the meteorologist.

If 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters, will the river overflow? 

If yes, how many inches will flood into the town? 

29

Adventures of the Disaster Dodgers Game 

31

33

35

37

39

41

43

4. STEP CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION 

 

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Issued to

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Issued to

For Learning About Emergency Planning and Helping Our Community, 

Family, and Friends Become Better Prepared

Classroom Emergency Planning Instructor Date

5. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS RESOURCES 

FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS 

51

Resources for Parents and Caregivers 

See the lists below for selected emergency preparedness resources from federal and other 

organizations. For a more detailed list, please see the FEMA Youth Preparedness Catalogue: 

Disaster Preparedness Education Programs and Resources at www.fema.gov/medialibrary/assets/documents/94775. 

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America’s PrepareAthon!: www.ready.gov/prepare

American Academy of Pediatrics, Family Readiness Kit: 

www.aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Children-andDisasters/Documents/aapfrkfull.pdf

American Red Cross, Prepare Your Home and Family: 

www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family 

FEMA Ready.Gov: www.ready.gov

FEMA Ready.Gov for Parents: www.ready.gov/kids/parents

DisasterAssistance.Gov: www.disasterassistance.gov

FEMA and Red Cross, Helping Children Cope with Disaster: 

www.fema.gov/pdf/library/children.pdf 

The Weather Channel Family Emergency Plan: www.connectwithweather.com/createyour-plan