Arizona Reviews Disaster Plan

By Nidah Chatriwala

Most parts of Arizona are assumed to be safe from desert storms such as the haboob and annual monsoon season. This year was an exception. Heavy rainfall this monsoon season caused tremendous damage to roads, homes, cars and public property causing governing officials to review Arizona’s disaster plan and insurance policies.

More than property damage, Arizonans are worried of their children’s safety during such weather hazards.

According to the recent study performed by Save the Children, Arizona amongst other states were declared as unsafe and underprepared for natural disasters.

The report is titled “What Are You Waiting For?” focuses on how children in public schools are safe from natural disasters as well as shootings at schools.

The study also revealed the fact that 69 percent of parents have automatically assumed that their child’s school has an appropriate plan handy in state of an emergency. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

“This report is a wake-up call,” said Kathy Spangler, Save the Children’s vice president of U.S. programs. “American parents say they’re concerned about risks their children face from school shootings and natural disaster. Yet, our poll also shows most parents know little about emergency plans at their child’s school or child care, and that they are failing to take basic actions to protect kids at home.”
The criteria used to grade state’s disaster plan is as follows:

– A plan for evacuating children in child care.
– A plan for reuniting families after a disaster.
– A plan for children with disabilities and those with access and functional needs.
– A multi-hazard plan for all K-12 schools.

“Every workday, 68 million children are separated from their parents,” Carolyn Miles, Save the Children’s president and CEO, said in a statement with the group’s annual disaster report card. “We owe it to these children to protect them before the next disaster strikes.”

According to azfamily.com, Arizona meets three of the grading criteria, but there’s a lot more work that needs to be done.

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