Hurricane Katrina Resources

• Department of Education
• Other federal agencies' guidance
• Resources for displaced professionals
• Helping children and families, especially those with disabilities, cope with disasters
• States' Web sites for disaster preparedness and Katrina related information

This Web page provides resources on disaster response and preparedness to assist individuals working with children and families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other natural disasters.

Department of Education

States and school districts across the country are taking steps to address the needs of students who have been left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. The Department of Education has released a Web page that connects schools & organizations willing to help. For complete information go to http://hurricanehelpforschools.gov/. This Web site also links to other resources from the Department and is being updated regularly, as new information becomes available.

On Sept. 7, 2005 Secretary Spellings released a policy letter related to hurricane relief efforts to all Chief State School Officers, which is available at http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/secletter/050907.html. Other key policy letters from the Department, including additional ones related to Hurricane Katrina, are available at http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/secletter/index.html.

Teachers are invited to ask Secretary Spellings a question through "Teachers Ask the Secretary", an online, interactive Q & A forum. An archive of questions and answers related to hurricane relief efforts is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20050906.html. To submit a new question go to http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/reform/teachersask/form.html.

The Department of Education is also encouraging states and school districts to review, as needed, the Department’s previously issued guidance on the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program. To read the full press release go to http://www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/index.html

• Improving Education For Homeless And Foster Children With Disabilities In The Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) : Summary (March 2005) - http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/DocServer/idea_2004_summary.pdf?docID=558 (PDF: 43kb)

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004: Provisions for Children and Youth with Disabilities Who Experience Homelessness (Retrieved Sept. 8, 2005) - http://www.serve.org/nche/downloads/briefs/idea.pdf (PDF: 414kb)
• Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts - http://www.serve.org/nche/katrina/katrina.php
• Information on Enrolling and Serving Children in Families Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, recently issued by the National Center for Homeless Education, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty can be found at http://homelessed.net/help/partner_release.pdf

• The Rural Early Childhood Forum on Hurricane Recovery and Emergency Preparedness Report - http://www.ruralec.msstate.edu/reports/hurricane-forum-rpt.pdf (PDF: 2,480kb)
  This report is based on a forum convened by the National Center for Rural Early Childhood Learning Initiatives to examine the early care and education needs of families devastated by Katrina. The forum evaluated issues such as: how to maintain child care subsidies for low-income working families and how to support staff and curriculum offerings for early childhood programs affected by the influx of children that were relocated as a result of the hurricane.

Other federal agencies' guidance

• One Year After Katrina: AAP Urges Families to Create Emergency Disaster Plans - http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/aug06katrina.htm
  On the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that families, pediatricians and communities prepare for potential disasters in order to decrease the physical and emotional toll on children.
• New GAO Report on Safegurading Children Displaced by Disasters - http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06944.pdf (PDF: 42kb)
  On July 28, 2006, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report entitled Child Welfare: Federal Action Needed to Ensure States Have Plans to Safeguard Children in the Child Welfare System Displaced by Disasters - GAO-06-944.
• Head Start Resources Related to Emergency Preparedness - http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/resources/Emergency Preparedness/P1.htm
  The National Head Start Assocation also has a Disaster Fund that will provide assistance to Head Start children and families who are victims of Hurricane Katrina. For more information visit http://www.nhsa.org/announcements/announce_disaster_update.htm
• Child Care Bureau - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb/initiatives/emergency/index.htm
  Provides key resources to support parents, providers and policymakers as they work to develop emergency preparedness, response and recovery plans.
• Child Welfare Information Gateway - Disaster Preparedness and Response - http://www.childwelfare.gov/highlights/disaster/
  This Web page is meant to help States and jurisdictions develop comprehensive disaster preparedness plans and respond to emergencies quickly and effectively to protect children and families. The resources are organized by preparedness (before a disaster), response (the immediate aftermath) and recovery (the longer-term reconstruction/healing phase).
• HHS Resources Related to Hurricane Katrina - http://www.hhs.gov/katrina/index.html
  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has also announced the availability of a toll-free hotline for victims of Hurricane Katrina. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), callers will be connected to a network of local crisis centers across the country that are committed to crisis counseling.
• HHS Approves Child Care Waivers for Three States - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2006/7_11_06_child_care_waivers.htm
  On July 11, 2006, HHS announced child care waivers to Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to access $60 million for child care services in support of hurricane Katrina and Rita recovery efforts. The waivers lift federal requirements for state matching funds in order for states to receive Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) funds.

Resources for displaced professionals

• AFT - http://www.aft.org/index.htm
  (American Federation of Teachers home page)
• ASHA - http://asha.org/
  (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association home page)
• APTA - http://www.apta.org/
  (American Physical Therapy Association home page)
• AOTA - http://www.aota.org/
  (American Occupational Therapy Association home page)
• CEC - http://www.cec.sped.org/
  (Council for Exceptional Children home page)
• NASW - http://www.naswdc.org/pressroom/events/katrina05/default.asp
  (includes resources gathered by the National Association of Social Workers for families and professionals to use with children to help them cope with the aftermath of Katerina)
• ASCA - http://www.schoolcounselor.org/index.asp
  (American School Counselor Association home page)
• NASP - http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/
  (includes resources from the National Association of School Psychologists on school safety and crisis)

Helping children and families, especially those with disabilities, cope with disasters

• Young Children after Katrina: A Proposal to Heal the Damage and Create Opportunity in New Orleans (February 2006) - http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/900920_young_children.pdf
• Urban Institute - After Katrina (Retrieved March 5, 2008)
  This Web page includes papers on many issues raised by Hurricane Katrina, including education and the well-being of children after the storm - http://www.urban.org/afterkatrina/
• American Academy of Pediatrics - Resources to Help Cope with Natural and Other Disasters (Retrieved Sept. 9, 2005) - http://www.aap.org/new/disasterresources.htm
  
• ZERO TO THREE - Federal Policy Recommendations: Hurricane Relief for Infants, Toddlers And Their Families (Retrieved September 2005) - http://zttcfn.convio.net/site/DocServer/Hurricane_Fact_Sheet.pdf?docID=2401
• Florida Institute for Family Involvement - Disaster Preparedness for Families of Children with Special Needs (Retrieved March 2006) - http://www.fifionline.org/resources/disaster_english.pdf (PDF: 6,871kb)
  This guide is meant to help families of children with special needs be prepared in the event of an emergency, disaster, or acts of terrorism. Although it is Florida oriented, much of the information is useful for all families and children with special needs.
• NCCIC - Helping Children Cope with Natural Disasters (Updated August 2005) - http://nccic.org/poptopics/disasters.html
• Teaching Strategies - Helping Children Rebound: Strategies for Preschool Teachers After the 2005 Hurricanes (Retrieved December 2005) - http://www.teachingstrategies.com/page/AU_HurricianeRelief.cfm
  This guide is based on the Creative Curriculum for Preschool. It contains information on how children develop and learn, creating a positive learning environment, what children learn, the teacher's role, and the family's role. It also helps teachers set up interest areas that provide children with the opportunity to cope with disruption in their lives as they reenact their experiences. Teachers are given guidance on how they can purposefully observe what children do and say, reflect on these observations, and respond in supportive ways.
• NAEYC - Helping Young Children After a Disaster (Retrieved September 9, 2005) - http://www.naeyc.org/families/disaster.asp
• Katrina Disaster Relief Information for People with Disabilities - http://www.katrinadisability.info/
  Includes information specifically for individuals with disabilities who were affected by Katrina and for people who want to help them.

States' Web sites for Katrina-related information

• Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services - Hurricane Katrina Information
  http://www.rehab.state.al.us/Home/default.aspx?url=/Home/Main
• Alabama Department of Education - Hurricane Katrina Student Assistance http://www.alsde.edu/HTML/HurricaneKatrina.asp
• Arkansas Department of Education - News Related to Hurricane Katrina - http://arkedu.state.ar.us/news/hurricane_info.html
• Arkansas Katrina Assistance Relief Effort - http://www.arkansas.gov/abep/Mobility_Programs_KARE.htm
  
• Florida Department of Health - http://www.doh.state.fl.us/
  Includes important information about hurricanes and a Hurricane Katrina healthcare professional registry.
• Florida Department of Education - http://www.fldoe.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1
  Includes information about Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and special information for displaced educators at http://www.fldoe.org/CC/hurricane_relief_efforts.asp. Florida's Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services is available at http://www.fldoe.org/ese/
• Florida's Early Intervention System - Early Steps, Children's Medical Services - http://www.cms-kids.com/EarlyStepsHome.htm
• Georgia - Department of Human Resources - http://dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site
  Includes information for Hurricane Katrina evacuees.
• Georgia - Dept. of Education Website for Katrina Relief Efforts - http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/
• Louisiana Emergency News - http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=145
• Louisiana Department of Education - http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/index.html
  Includes FAQs, information for displaced Louisiana teachers, information for displaced Louisiana students, and other resourses.
• Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals - Hurricane Information Site - http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/
  Includes FAQs from families and providers about medical services.
• Louisiana State Nurses Association - http://www.lsna.org/
  Includes resources related to credentialing for LA nurses and nurses coming to LA to help with disaster relief.
• Mississippi State University's Early Childhood Institute released a report in September 2007 entitled Early Childhood Disaster Risk Index, which provides information on the vulnerability and emergency preparedness needs of the early childhood sector in eleven states at high risk of hurricanes, earthquakes, or both. It is available online at http://www.earlychildhood.msstate.edu/disaster-risk/index.htm
• Mississippi State University's Early Childhood Institute released a report in June 2006 entitled After Katrina: Rebuilding Mississippi’s Early Childhood Infrastructure: The First Six Months. The report discusses the collaborative effort of numerous entities to rebuild a comprehensive system of services for young children affected by Hurricane Katrina and their families. It includes a map of licensed child care facilities in the affected areas, showing the types of assistance each received, and describes a new national initiative that came about as result of ECI’s work - the Early Childhood Emergency Preparedness Initiative. The report is available at http://earlychildhood.msstate.edu/katrina-report/index.htm.
• Mississippi Department of Education - Hurricane Recovery and Assistance News - http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/Katrina/
• Mississippi Department of Health - Hurricane Recovery News & Information - http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_static/44,0,122,269.html
• Tennessee Department of Education Provides Education Opportunities for Displaced Students - http://www.state.tn.us/education/news/nr/2005/nr050912.htm
• Texas Department of State Health Services - Hurricane Katrina Information and Resources - http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/dshstoday/katrina.shtm
  Includes information on emergency licensure verification and expedited licensure for health care professionals at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/katrina/kat_professionals.shtm
  
• Texas Early Childhood Intervention Program - http://www.dars.state.tx.us/ecis/index.shtml
• Texas Education Agency - http://www.tea.state.tx.us/
  Includes important information about efforts the agency is making to assist school districts and charter schools in serving students who may have relocated from Louisiana and Mississippi to Texas following Hurricane Katrina.