When emergencies and disasters happen, parents and caregivers share a single priority: Where is my child, and how do I get to them?

After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, it took more than six months to reunite over 5,000 children with their families. Stories like these show why family reunification planning is a critical part of emergency preparedness. A reunification plan reduces panic, minimizes confusion and helps ensure children are reunited with trusted caregivers as quickly and safely as possible.

What is family reunification?

Family reunification means safely bringing children and caregivers back together after they’ve been separated in an emergency or disaster. Separation can happen after:

• A school evacuation
• A natural disaster like a tornado, earthquake or hurricane
• A large public event
• Shelter-in-place or lockdown incidents

In high-stress moments like these, children and caregivers may struggle to remember details or even communicate clearly. A family reunification plan gives everyone a roadmap to follow.

Know your school or daycare’s plan

Every school or childcare center should have a reunification policy. Ask about:

• Who will release your child and how they verify identity
• Where reunification will occur if the facility is evacuated
• What identification you’ll need to pick up your child
• Who can pick up your child if you’re unavailable

Also, keep your contact information up to date with every caregiver, school and program your child attends.

Teach kids the essentials

Children do not always carry IDs. If your child is old enough, teach them their:

• Full name
• Parent or caregiver’s names
• A phone number (or at least how to unlock a phone and find help)
• Home address
• Alternate emergency contact

Consider creating a laminated Backpack Emergency Card that can be sent with your child.

Add a reunification strategy to your family plan

Review what to do if your child gets separated from you:

• Pick two meeting places: one close to home and one outside your neighborhood
• Designate a trusted out-of-area contact
• Choose a family password (a word or phrase only known to trusted adults)

If you’re in a crowded place like a theme park, concert or airport, consider labeling your child’s clothing or using ID bracelets with your contact info.

Reunification tips by age

Infants and toddlers (0–3 years)

• Use ID bracelets or labeled clothing
• Place emergency contact info in diaper bags or strollers
• Carry a recent photo of your child

Preschoolers (4–5 years)

• Use ID bracelets or labeled clothing
• Practice saying their own name and a parent’s name
• Begin learning phone numbers

Elementary school (6–11 years)

• Provide a wallet-sized emergency card
• Practice reciting address and phone number
• Identify meeting spots and trusted contacts

Middle school (12–14 years)

• Teach them to send a text when calls don’t go through
• Emphasize staying calm and finding help

High school (15–18 years)

• Involve them in planning and updating family emergency kits
• Encourage them to carry ID and medical information
• Empower them to help younger siblings during reunification

Emergencies can’t always be predicted but they can be planned for. Practicing your reunification plan regularly — and updating contact cards and meeting spots yearly or after a move or school change — can make a stressful situation far easier to manage.

Resources

• Pediatric Pandemic Network: Reunification resource guide
• AAP: Family separation and reunification
• gov: Family emergency planning

This is the last article in our four-part series for National Preparedness Month. Stay tuned all September for more family-friendly tips on emergency preparedness and child safety.