Droughts contribute to wildfires and rain can mean severe storms and tornadoes. The Dallas area has plenty of severe weather and other disaster potential. So how does your daycare prepare? Do you know what to do in case of emergency?
Every daycare, whether a large center or a registered home, will have a fire escape route. Registered and licensed homes and centers will have fire drills once a month, so children and staff will be prepared to evacuate. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which regulates childcare in Texas, requires daycare centers and registered homes to post evacuation routes and "areas where children and adults shelter during threatening weather" according to the Minimum Standards.
Of particular interest to parents and guardians is the emergency location where children and staff will shelter if they cannot return to the premises in case of an emergency such as a fire or flood. Be sure the daycare staff have a current contact number for at least 3 people designated to pick up your child, in case of phone service interruption. If the staff have a wrong number, and have to evacuate, there could be a considerable delay in reuniting with your child.
Through an SLGCP grant from the United States Dept. of Homeland Security and through the Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth Urban Area Security Initiatives, the website and booklet called Know What 2 Do, provide free information about emergency preparedness. There is even an interactive tool to create an action plan for your home, so you can be just as prepared as your child's daycare.
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