Appendix C: Disaster Reference Guide
Overview
How to Use This Reference Guide
Disaster Reference Guides outline some of the ways children may be more vulnerable to environmental hazards after different types of disasters. Each disaster presents distinct risks to children's physical safety, emotional well-being, and ability to access care or remain with trusted adults.
Common Environmental Hazards
This section explains how a disaster can create or worsen specific environmental health hazards, especially those that affect children. This section helps assessment teams understand what kinds of hazards to focus on and what kinds of questions to ask during interviews or site visits.
Educational Resources
The Educational Resources sections throughout the Disaster Reference Guide offer quick access to trusted information related to key environmental health and safety topics that commonly arise after a disaster. These resources come from reputable agencies and organizations and are intended to support assessment team members as they navigate a wide range of potential issues in the field.
These resources are intended to:
Provide background information on disasters that may be unfamiliar or complex.
Offer practical strategies and actions that can be shared with state, tribal, territorial, and local (STTL) partners or children's programs when concerns arise.
Help teams identify tools, checklists, and technical guidance that support both immediate response and long-term recovery planning.
Assessment team members are encouraged to use these resources to deepen their knowledge, answer questions in real time, and identify additional support that may be available to affected communities. Resources may also be referenced or shared during engagements if appropriate, especially when local partners request more information about a specific hazard or health concern.
All links were active when this guide was published, but they may change over time. If a link is broken or you need more information, try using a web search to find updated or related resources.
Earthquake
Children are vulnerable during earthquakes due to their size and understanding.
Fire
Children are at higher risk during wildfires due to their size and sensitivity to smoke and heat.
Hurricane
Children face health risks from mold, debris & contaminated water after a hurricane.
Tornado
Children are more susceptible to physical injuries, airborne toxins, and contaminated food or water.
Tsunami
Tsunami recovery jeopardizes children's health from diseases, mold, and debris injuries.
Volcano
Children are more vulnerable to risks from pollutants, increasing their exposure risks.
