Returning to School After an Emergency or Disaster: Tips to Help Your Students Cope

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Returning to School

For the latest information on COVID-19 and schools and child care, please visit CDC’s COVID-19 website.

Teachers have an important role to play in helping children both prepare for and recover after a public health emergency.

Public health emergencies and disasters affect millions of children worldwide each year. These emergencies and disasters include natural events (such as severe weather, earthquakes, fires, floods, and tsunamis) and man-made events (such as acts of terrorism). An emergency or disaster can be destructive to a child’s physical environment, as well as affect their mental health. As a teacher, you are committed to keeping schools safe and supporting children and their families. If your students experience an emergency or disaster, there are steps you can take to help your students cope and recover.

Smiling female teacher working with three young children

How can I help my students cope and continue to support their recovery from a disaster?

Talk to students about what happened in a way they can understand. Keep it simple and appropriate for each child’s age. (Learn more about common reactions by age range)
Provide students with opportunities to talk about what they went through or what they think about it. Encourage them to share concerns and ask questions.
Children react, in part, to what they see from the adults around them. When teachers deal with a disaster calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their students.
Children who were directly exposed to a disaster can become upset again; behavior changes resulting from the event may be long lasting and can worsen or return if these children see or hear reminders of what happened. Be aware that that this could happen and know what resources are available at your school for children and families, should you need to report concerns to the appropriate people at your school.

It is difficult to predict how some children will respond to disasters and traumatic events. Because parents, teachers, and other adults see children in different situations, it is important for them to work together to share information about how each child is coping after a traumatic event.

After a disaster, teachers may also be struggling with severe posttraumatic symptoms and personal losses. This might prevent them from getting involved in any kind of post-disaster intervention with their students. In this case, it is important that teachers take care of themselves first and seek help from a professional. (SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990)