Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book 
FEMA–243E / October 1993 
American Red Cross 

Fire... Hurricane... Flood... Thunderstorm...
Dear Parent or Educator,
News stories of disaster regularly make headlines around the globe.
As you’ve watched others deal with these emergencies, you may
have wondered what would happen if a disaster struck closer to home.
For parents or teachers of young children, the thought is even more troubling.
How would you and your children cope? Perhaps you’ve already
experienced a disaster — what would you do differently next time? The
answer to both questions is clear. Be prepared.
This coloring book is designed for adults and children to work on together.
Children can learn about fire, earthquakes, floods, tornados and other
disasters, as well as how to protect themselves — all while having fun
coloring.
Work through each section with children to make sure they understand
the concepts and learn important safety messages. To help you do this,
each coloring page is accompanied by key points to talk about and
action steps to take. You may want to review this information before
meeting with children. The coloring book ends with a “quiz” that can help
you find out if they learned the information. From time to time, quiz children
again and practice key steps to help them remember what to do.
Children are wonderful at adapting to situations when they know what to
expect. By creating a family disaster plan, you can help children be
ready to deal with emergencies.

Tornado... Earthquake... Winter Storm...
Hey Kids!
Wind makes kites fly. Fire can keep us warm. And rain helps flowers grow.
But sometimes the wind blows too hard, fires get too big or it rains too much.
Learn what to do when nature shows off!
This book will help you. But you’ll need to ask an adult to work with you. Get
Mom, Dad, your teacher or an adult friend to read this book while you color.
Have fun!
(Image of mother, and childen reading)

Natural Disasters
Disasters can strike quickly and without warning.
While a disaster is frightening for adults, it can be
traumatic for children if they don’t know what to do.
Help children understand the concept of a disaster...
• Explain that nature sometimes provides
“too much of a good thing” — fire, rain,
wind, snow. Tell them that a disaster is
when something happens that could hurt
people, cause damage or cut off utilities
such as water, telephones or electricity.
• Give examples of several disasters that
could happen in your community. To get
this information, contact your local office of
emergency management or local American
Red Cross chapter. Ask what disasters
are most likely to happen and request
information on how to prepare for them.
• Talk about typical effects that children
can relate to, such as loss of electricity,
water and telephone service.
• Explain that when people know what to
do — and practice in advance — everyone
is better able to handle emergencies.
That’s why we need to create a family
disaster plan.

Nature is beautiful...and powerful!
(Image representing different types of natural disasters)

Emergencies
Even very young children can be taught how and when to call for help.
Action Steps for Adults
• Help children recognize the warning signs
for the disasters that could happen in your
community. You can get this information
from your local emergency management
office or American Red Cross chapter.
• Tell children that in a disaster there
are many people who can help them. Talk
about ways that an emergency manager, Red
Cross volunteer, police officer, firefighter,
teacher, neighbor, doctor or utility worker
might help following a disaster.
• Teach children how and when to call for
help. Check the telephone directory for
local emergency telephone numbers. If
you live in a 9-1-1 service area, teach
children to call 9-1-1. At home, post emergency
telephone numbers by all phones
and explain when to call each number.
• Even very young children can be taught
how and when to call for emergency assistance.
If a child can’t read, this emergency
telephone number chart has pictures that
may help him or her identify the correct
number to call. As you explain each picture,
have the child color the symbol on the
chart.
• Take a first aid and CPR course. These are
critical skills, and learning can be a fun
activity for older children. Contact your
local office of emergency management,
American Red Cross chapter or hospital for
information.
• At home, ask an out-of-state friend to be
your family “check-in” contact. After a
disaster, long-distance telephone lines often
remain in service even when local lines are
down. Tell children to call this “check-in”
contact if they are separated from the family
in an emergency. Help them memorize the
telephone number, or write it down on a
card they can keep with them.

Emergency Phone Numbers
My Family Name:
My Phone Number:
My Address:
My Town:
Ambulance:
Fire:
Police/Sheriff:
Mother:
Father:
Other:

Fire
Fire is the disaster that families are most likely to experience.
Talk with children about fire safety, and
practice these activities with them. Keep
in mind that children under age five are at
highest risk.
Safety Messages for Kids
• “Matches and lighters are tools, not toys.
These tools help adults use fire properly. If
you see someone playing with fire, tell an
adult right away.”
• “If a fire starts in your home or you hear
the smoke detector alarm, yell ‘Fire!’ several
times and go outside right away. If you live
in a building with elevators, use the stairs.
Never try to hide from fire. Leave all your
things where they are. Once you are outside,
go to your meeting place and then
send one person for help.”
• “If your clothes catch fire...stop, drop and
roll. Stop what you are doing, drop to the
ground, cover your face and roll over and
over until the flames go out. Running will
only make the fire worse.”
Action Steps for Adults
• Show children how to crawl low, under the
smoke to escape. Explain that they should
feel a door before opening it. If the door is cool,
open it slowly. If the door is hot, find another
way out. If they cannot get outside safely,
instruct them to hang a sheet outside a window
so firefighters can find them.
• Practice “stop, drop and roll” with children.
Explain that running away will only make
the fire burn faster.

At home:
• Choose an outside meeting place, such as a
tree, street corner or mailbox. Make sure it will
be a safe distance from heat, smoke and
flames. Tell children to go directly to this meeting
place in case of a fire. This plan will help
you know quickly if everyone got out safely.
• Make sure that children understand that
once they are outside, they should stay outside.
Children are often concerned about the
safety of their pets, so discuss this issue before a
fire starts.
• Find two ways to escape from every room
and practice getting out of your home during
the day and at night. Chart these escape
routes on your own “home escape plan.” If
you have an escape ladder, show kids where
it’s kept and how to use it.
• Practice your home escape plan at least
twice a year. Quiz children every six months
so they’ll remember what to do and where to
meet.
• Install smoke detectors on every level of
your home, especially near bedrooms. Clean
and test them monthly, and change the batteries
at least once a year. Make sure children
know what your smoke detector sounds like.
• Check electrical wiring in your home. Fix
frayed extension cords, exposed wires or loose
plugs.
• Make sure your home heating source is
clean and in working order. Many home fires
are started by faulty furnaces or stoves,
cracked or rusted furnace parts and chimneys
with creosote build-up.

If a fire starts, yell “Fire!” and go outside right
away. Go to your outside meeting place.
(Image of family in designated meeting place)

Thunderstorms
Lightning always accompanies a thunderstorm. And lightning can 
strike the same place twice!
A thunderstorm is a storm with lightning
caused by changes in air pressure.
Severe thunderstorms can bring heavy
rains (which can cause flash flooding),
strong winds, hail and tornados. At any
given moment, nearly 1,800 thunderstorms
are in progress over the face of the earth!
The sound of thunder can be especially
frightening for young children. Take the
“scariness” away by teaching them what to
expect during a thunderstorm and how to
be safe.
Safety Messages for Kids
• “If you see or hear a thunderstorm coming,
go inside a sturdy building or car.”
• “If you can’t get inside...or if you feel your
hair stand on end, which means lightning
is about to strike...hurry to a low, open
space immediately. Crouch down and
place your hands on your knees.
Move away from tall things like trees, towers, 
fences, telephone lines or power
lines. They attract lightning.
Never stand underneath a single large tree
out in the open because lightning will hit the highest
point in an area.
And stay away from metal things that
lightning may strike, such as umbrellas,
baseball bats, fishing rods, camping equipment
and bicycles.”
• “If you are boating or swimming, get to
land immediately.”
• “Lightning can cause electric appliances,
including televisions and telephones, to
become dangerous during a thunderstorm.
Turn off the air conditioner and television,
and stay off the phone until the storm is
over.”
Action Steps for Adults
• Explain what to expect during a thunderstorm.
Describe the loud thunder and
flashes of lightning. Make sure children
understand that they can stay safe.
• Talk about the danger signs; dark, towering
clouds or distant lightning and thunder
can signal an approaching thunderstorm.
• Practice the “crouch down” position with
children.

If you see storm clouds or hear thunder, go inside right away.
(Image of children returning to their home during a storm)


Tornados
Tornados are nature’s most violent storms — they can devastate an area in seconds.
A tornado appears as a rotating, funnelshaped
cloud, striking the ground
with whirling winds of up to 200 miles per
hour. A tornado spins like a top and may
sound like an airplane or train. Most tornados
travel a distance of about 10 miles,
although “tornado tracks” of 200 miles have
been reported. Tornados can happen just
about anywhere in the United States.
Safety Messages for Kids
• “Wherever you are, if you hear or see a
tornado coming, take cover right away.”
• “If you’re in a house or apartment building,
go to the basement or storm cellar. If
there is no basement, go to the middle
section of the building on the lowest level —
and go into a bathroom or closet, if possible.”
• “Get under something sturdy, such as a
heavy table, and stay there until the danger
has passed. Use your arms and hands
to protect your head from falling or flying
objects.”
• “If you’re outside,
in a car or in a mobile home, go
immediately to the basement of a
nearby sturdy building. If there is no shelter nearby,
lie flat in a low spot. Use your arms and
hands to protect your head. If you hear or
see water, move quickly to another spot.”
Action Steps for Adults
• With children, find some safe places in
your home or classroom. Make sure these
places are away from windows and heavy
furniture that could tip over. Also, show
children an example of a safe place outside.
• Know the terms used on the radio or
television that warn of possible approaching
tornados:
Tornado Watch: Weather conditions are
right for tornados to develop. A watch
does not necessarily mean a tornado will
develop.
Tornado Warning: A tornado has been
sighted and is dangerous. This is the
time to go to a safe place and listen to
a battery-operated radio for instructions.
• Find out what warning system is used in
your community.
• If you live in a single-family home in a
tornado-prone area, find out how to reinforce
an interior room on the lowest level of
your home (such as the basement, storm
cellar, bathroom or closet) to use as a shelter.

If a tornado is coming, go to a safe place right away.
(Image of children in basement under a bench)

Hurricane
A hurricane is a tropical storm with winds reaching 74 miles per hour or more.
Hurricane winds blow in a large spiral
around a relatively calm center
known as the “eye.” The “eye” is generally
20 to 30 miles wide, and the storm may
spread outward as far as 400 miles. As a
hurricane approaches, the skies will begin
to darken and winds will increase. As a
hurricane nears land, it can bring heavy
rains, strong winds and extremely high
tides.
Safety Messages for Kids
• “During a hurricane
watch, we’ll listen regularly
to the radio or television for
official instructions.”
• “If officials announce a hurricane warning,
they may ask us to leave our home as
soon as possible to be safe. We’ll take our
disaster supplies kits and go to a shelter or to
__________. We’ll call our “check-in” contact
so someone will know where we’re going.”
(Note: For information on how to assemble
a disaster supplies kit, please refer to the
“Disaster Supplies Kit” section.)
Action Steps for Adults
• Know the terms used on the radio or
television that warn of potential hurricane
conditions:
Hurricane Watch: A hurricane may
strike your area within 24-36 hours.
Hurricane Warning: Hurricane conditions
are expected in your area within 24
hours. Coastal areas may need to be
evacuated.
• Talk about what you would do in an
evacuation. Consider where you would go
and what you would take.
• Keep a battery-operated radio in case
power goes out.
• Measure and cut plywood to cover your
windows.

If a hurricane is coming, your family may need to leave home and go to a safer place.
(Image of family boarding up windows and preparing supplies)

Floods
Floods are the most common and widespread of all natural hazards.

Even very small streams, gullies, creeks,
culverts, dry streambeds or low-lying
ground that may appear harmless in dry
weather can flood.
Safety Messages for Kids
• ”If you come upon flood waters, stop.
Turn around and go another way. Climb
to higher ground.”
”Stay away from flooded areas...even if it
seems safe, the water may still be rising.
Never try to walk, swim or dive into the
water because it may be moving very
fast.” (NOTE: Less than six inches of fastmoving
flood water can knock people off
their feet, and two feet of water will float a
car.)
• “If you are in a car, get out immediately
and move to higher ground.”
• “Watch out for snakes in areas that were
flooded.”
• “Never play around high water, storm
drains, ditches, ravines or culverts.”
• “Throw away food that has come into
contact with flood waters...eating it could
make you very sick.”
Action Steps for Adults
• Know the terms used on the radio or
television that warn of potential flooding
conditions:
Flood/Flash Flood Watch: Flooding or
flash flooding may occur within the
designated WATCH area — be alert.
Flood/Flash Flood Warning: Flooding or
flash flooding has been reported or is
imminent — take necessary precautions
at once.
• Find out if you live in a flood plain. If
you do, call your local emergency management
office or American Red Cross
chapter to learn what types of supplies
should be stored to protect your home
from floodwater.
• Know the elevation of your property in
relation to nearby streams and dams so
that you will know if forecasted flood levels
will affect your home.

If you see flood waters, move away from them. Go to a higher place. Never play
near or try to swim in flood waters.
(Image of family moving to higher ground away from flood waters)

Winter Storms
A winter storm can range from several inches of snow over a
few hours to blizzard conditions that last several days.
Winter storms can last several days
and be accompanied by high winds,
freezing rain or sleet, heavy snowfall and
extreme cold. People can become
stranded on the road or trapped at home,
without utilities or other services. Most of
the United States is at some risk from winter
storms.
Safety Messages for Kids
• “The best way to stay safe in a snowstorm
is to stay inside.”
• “If you go outside to play after a snowstorm,
dress in many layers and wear a
hat and mittens. Come inside often for
warm-up breaks.”
• “If you start to shiver a lot or get very
tired...or if your nose, fingers, toes or ear
lobes start to feel numb or turn really pale…
come inside right away and tell an adult.”
Action Steps for Adults
• There are ways to dress children in cold
weather that will keep them warmer.
Many layers of thin clothing are warmer
than single layers of thick clothing. One of
the best ways to stay warm is to wear a
hat; most body heat is lost through the top
of the head. Keep hands and feet warm
too. Mittens are warmer than gloves.
Covering the mouth with a scarf protects
lungs from extremely cold air.
• Teach children how to watch for signs of
frostbite and hypothermia. A loss of feeling
and a white or pale appearance in fingers,
toes, nose or ear lobes are symptoms of
frostbite. Uncontrollable shivering, slow
speech, memory lapses, frequent stumbling,
drowsiness and exhaustion are
symptoms of hypothermia. If you suspect
frostbite or hypothermia, warm the child
and seek immediate medical assistance.
• Children should also avoid overexertion.
Cold weather puts an added strain on the
heart.
• In your home, have available some kind
of emergency heating equipment and fuel
so you can keep at least one room of your
home warm. If your furnace is controlled
by a thermostat, and the power goes out,
you will need emergency heat.
• If you are trapped in your car during a
snowstorm, stay there. Leave the car only
if help is visible within 100 yards. To attract
attention, hang a brightly colored cloth on
the radio antenna and raise the trunk. Turn
on the car’s engine for about 10 minutes each
hour. Run the heater and turn on the dome
light when the car is running. Keep the
exhaust pipe clear of snow and open a
downwind window slightly for ventilation.

When there is snow outside, bundle up in lots of
layers of clothing and wear a hat. Ask an adult
if it’s okay to play outside — and come inside
often for “warm-up” breaks.
(Image of mother putting a warm hat on her child)

Earthquakes
Earthquakes can happen anywhere, anytime.
An earthquake is a sudden, fast shaking
of the earth. One can strike without
warning — causing fires, explosions and
landslides. Earthquakes happen when
rock that is below the earth’s surface breaks
and shifts. People in all states are at some
risk from earthquakes.

Safety Messages for Kids
• “If you’re indoors during an earthquake,
drop, cover and hold on. Get under a
desk, table or bench...hold on to one of the
legs and cover your eyes. If there’s no
table or desk nearby, sit down against a
wall. Pick a safe place where things will
not fall on you, away from windows, bookcases
or tall, heavy furniture.”
• “Wait in your safety spot until the shaking
stops, then check to see if you are hurt.
Check the people around you too. Move
carefully and watch out for things that
have fallen. Be ready for smaller earthquakes
called aftershocks.”
• “Be on the lookout for fires. Earthquakes
can cause fire alarms and fire sprinklers to
go off. If you must leave a building after
the shaking stops, use the stairs, not the
elevator.”
•“If you’re outside in an earthquake...stay outside.
Move away from buildings, trees, street
lights and power lines. Crouch down and
cover your head.”
• “If you are in a car, stay there with your
seatbelt fastened.”

Action Steps for Adults
• Help children understand what to expect
in an earthquake and how to protect themselves.
• With children, find safe places in every
room of your home or the classroom. Practice
“drop, cover and hold on”...getting
under a table or other sturdy object. Look
for safe places inside and outside of other
buildings where you spend time.
• Explain that it is dangerous to run outside
when an earthquake happens because
falling objects can hurt people.
• Tell children to be prepared for aftershocks
— smaller earthquakes that can
happen over a period of weeks (and sometimes
months) after the first earthquake. Be
sure they know to go to a safe place during
aftershocks.
• At home, bolt down water heaters and
gas appliances. Place large or heavy
objects and fragile items (such as glass or
china) on lower shelves. Securely fasten
shelves to walls. Brace or anchor high or
top-heavy objects.

If you’re indoors during an earthquake,
drop, cover and hold on.
(Image of a child on the floor, under a table and holing on to it)

Disaster Supplies Kit
Assemble Disaster Supplies Kits with Your Children.
Following a disaster, basic services —
electricity, water, gas, telephones —
may be cut off for days. Or, you may have
to evacuate at a moment’s notice. You
probably won’t have time to shop or search
for the supplies you’ll need. Gather the
supplies you’ll need to deal with the situation
now, before disaster strikes.

Action Steps for Adults
Plan an activity with children to put together
disaster supplies kits.
At home, your kits should contain:
• One gallon of water per person per day
• Non-perishable food: ready-to-eat
canned meats, fruits and vegetables;
canned juices, milk and soup; sugar, salt
and pepper; high energy foods such as
peanut butter, jelly, crackers, nuts, health
food bars, trail mix; comfort foods such as
cookies, hard candy and sweetened cereal.
Don’t forget a non-electric can opener!
• A first aid kit that includes your family’s
prescription medications (ask your doctor
about proper ways to store medicine)
• Emergency supplies and tools including
a battery-operated radio, flashlight and
plenty of extra batteries
• One change of clothing and footwear
per person, and one blanket or sleeping
bag per person
• Sanitation supplies: toilet paper, soap,
personal hygiene items
• Special items for infant, elderly or disabled
family members
• An extra set of car keys and cash,
traveler’s checks and a credit card
Store enough supplies to last at least three
days. Keep them in sturdy, easy-to-carry
containers such as backpacks, duffle bags
or covered trash containers. Store your kits
in a safe, convenient place known to all
family members — preferably in a cool,
dry, dark place. Keep a smaller version of
this kit in the trunk of your car. You should
also keep important family documents in a
waterproof container.
In the classroom, your kit should contain:
• class roster
• first aid kit
• battery-operated radio
• work gloves
• flashlights
• extra batteries
• non-perishable food items; crackers,
cookies, trail mix
• plastic trash bags
• other items as your school requires

Ask children to help you remember to keep
your kits in working order: change the
water and food every six months; replace
batteries at least twice a year. You might
have them make calendars or posters with
these dates marked on them. And ask
children to think of items that they would
like to include in their own disaster supplies
kit, such as books or games or appropriate
non-perishable food items.

We can keep supplies that will help us if a disaster
happens. Put together a disaster supplies kit today!
(Image of a family putting together a disaster supplies kit)

Family Disaster Plan
Practice your plan so everyone will remember what to do!
Hold emergency escape drills.
• Test smoke detectors and change the batteries.
• Keep disaster supplies kits up-to-date.

Quiz children every few months to help them remember what to do.
Here are some questions you can ask right now to make sure
they’ve learned key concepts:
1. What will you do if you’re in your room and smell smoke or hear the
smoke detector go off? Where will you go?
2. What will you do if you see dark clouds and hear thunder?
3. How might you know that a tornado is coming? If a tornado is coming,
where will you go? What will you do to protect yourself?
4. If we are told that a hurricane is coming, what are some of the things we
will do to get ready?
5. Why should you stay away from flood waters?
6. What will you do if your clothes catch fire?
7. When you play outside in the snow, what will you do to make sure you
don’t get too cold?
8. If the earth starts to shake, what will you do?
9. Who will you call for help in an emergency? Where can you find these
telephone numbers?
10.What are some things you want to put in your disaster supplies kit?
11.What will you do if you see a friend playing with matches?

For more information, ask for materials
about specific disasters and for a copy of Your Family Disaster Plan from
your local office of emergency management (publication #L-191) or
American Red Cross chapter (publication #ARC4466). Or write to FEMA,
P.O. Box 70274, Washington, DC 20024, and ask for Publication #L-191.