Be Prepared Not Scared
Books
Henry and the Hurricane
Written by Brittany Perkins Castillo, CEO of the national rapid response emergency management, logistics, and disaster response business and illustrated by award winning illustrator and widely recognized kid expert Nathan Y Jarvis. Brittany’s vast experience with natural disasters combine with Nathan’s ability to engage, inform, and enchant children in Henry and the Hurricane as Henry and his family prepare for a hurricane.
What is a hurricane? How do we know when one is coming? Is there a safe place to go? Is it okay to feel afraid and uncertain? Henry and the Hurricane helps children prepare for the big feeling a big storms bring. The pages are full of kid-friendly information about hurricanes, feelings, and facts, as well as peppered with hidden objects for the readers to search for. Some are easy to find for the youngest readers—some are a real challenge to keep older eyes on the lookout! Join Henry’s family as they help him figure out what to do with his feelings while also showing him what kids can do to be stronger than the storm.
Hero Helpers
Even the most calm and prepared adults experience stress, worry, and disarray after a disaster or emergency event. Kids experience the same emotions as adults, often without rational thinking or knowledge to ground them. The author and her team have created this book after many years of living and working in communities after crisis events. They have listened to and observed numerous community-based responses to disasters. A consistent theme in all communities - regardless the disaster type - is when and how to best talk to kids about these traumatic events. This book is a tool to support these important conversations at a family level, at school, or in the community. Our hope is that this book Serve as a communication and learning tool for kids and caregivers in planning for or responding to disasters; Provide something for young ones to do post-disaster when they need safe, kid-friendly, low-tech activities and when parents need to do the "adult things" in response and recovery; Offer helpful resources to support the physical and mental health of kids following a difficult event; Take time to color or solve a puzzle with the kids in your life. Fun and connection are healthy for adults too! All proceeds go towards providing books and resources for children impacted by disasters.
Family Emergency Preparedness
The Family Emergency Preparedness initiative provides resources to support storm preparedness campaigns that are a valuable educational tool for government agencies, schools, businesses, community organizations, and citizens.
Partnerships
Save the Children
Partnering to support child-friendly spaces during disaster events, helping create safe, structured environments where children can play, learn, and begin to recover.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Bringing Henry and the Hurricane to life through interactive book readings that teach kids preparedness, resilience, and what to expect before, during, and after a disaster.
Kendra Scott Foundation
Supporting the Little Yellow Library program by sponsoring community book installations and hosting readings that expand access to disaster preparedness education for children.
New Day Foundation
Collaborating to provide Psychological First Aid training, equipping communities with the tools to support children and families in the immediate aftermath of disaster events.
University of Miami Global Institute
Working together to advance research, education, and community-based initiatives that strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience for children and families.
Resources
Explore a variety of resources to help support children affected by disasters, from expert insights to practical guides, research, services to assist families, educators, and emergency managers in understanding and addressing children’s unique needs during and after disasters.
Creating Calm During Chaos
A Simple Guide for Supporting Children in Disasters
During and after disasters, kids need to feel safe, loved, and supported. Parents and caregivers can help by listening carefully, showing kindness, giving hope, and keeping things calm.
This guide will help you support children in tough times.
Disasters Don’t Wait. Neither Should We.
Stronger than the Storm serves to connect people and organizations that are focused on, or curious about, the following topics:
1. WHAT is the reality for children in a post-event world.
2. WHY it matters that children’s needs are addressed.
3. WHAT the real versus ideal currently is.
4. WHEN and WHAT action needs to be taken.
🌊 Hurricane Flooding vs. Flash Flooding
Know the Difference and Stay Safe!
Not all floods are the same. Swipe to learn the key differences and family safety tips.
Prepared beats scared! 💪
👉 strongerthanthestorm.com for free resources and kids activities
#StrongerThanTheStorm #HurricanePreparedness #FlashFloodSafety #PreparedBeatsScared
⚡ Flash Flooding
• Strikes suddenly within minutes!
• Can happen anywhere
• Water rises extremely fast
• Most dangerous in low areas or at night
🌧️ Hurricane Flooding
• Caused by storm surge and heavy rain
• Builds over hours or days
• Often affects big coastal areas
• Can last for days
🛡️ Family Safety Tips
• Know your evacuation routes
• Never drive through floodwater
• Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
• Have a family meeting spot
Ready to get prepared?
Visit strongerthanthestorm.com for free resources, checklists and kids activities. Message us for information on books including bulk order books and our shelter kit!
Prepared beats scared 💙
🎆🌩️ Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸
Enjoy the fireworks, fun, and family time but if thunder roars, go indoors! ⛈️ Keep a small storm bag with water, snacks, a flashlight, batteries, and a charged phone so you’re ready if the weather changes.
Prepared beats scared! ❤️💪 Have a safe and spectacular 4th of July! 🎇
Learn more at strongerthanthestorm.com
#StrongerThanTheStorm #PreparedBeatsScared #Happy4thOfJuly #ThunderstormTips #FamilyFun
☀️ It’s HOT out there, friends! With heat indexes climbing into the 100s+ across the country this week, it’s the perfect time for a refresher on Extreme Heat Smarts! 🌡️
Swipe through for 5 easy ways to keep your whole crew (yes, even the furry ones 🐾) cool, safe, and smiling this summer.
1️⃣ AC is your best friend no AC? Libraries & malls make great cool down spots!
2️⃣ Cars get HOT fast never, ever leave a kiddo (or pet) inside, even for a sec
3️⃣ Feeling woozy? STOP, find shade, and hydrate
4️⃣ Drink up BEFORE you’re thirsty water is the real summer MVP
5️⃣ Pets need cool down time too pavement can burn little paws!
Stay cool, stay smart, and remember being prepared can be fun! 🍦😎
👉 More tips at strongerthanthestorm.com
#BePrepared #ExtremeHeat #HeatSafety #SummerSafety #FamilyPreparedness
Our hearts are with everyone in Venezuela and all the families affected. 💛
Yesterday, strong earthquakes shook Venezuela, with shaking also felt in parts of Japan and California.
Big shakes can feel scary but prepared beats scared! 💪
Kids, here’s your superhero move:
Drop, Cover, and Hold On!
Drop to the ground
Cover under a sturdy table or desk
Hold on until the shaking stops
Being prepared makes us stronger than the storm!
✅ Build a family emergency kit
✅ Practice your earthquake drill together
✅ Choose a safe meeting spot
When we get ready as a family, we stay brave no matter what. 🌟
More kid-friendly preparedness tips at strongerthanthestorm.com
#EarthquakeReady #strongerthanthestorm #DisasterReady #FamilyPreparedness
Big thanks to the Miami Children’s Museum for including us in their Storm Lab weekend where we were able to share our resources with over 2,500 guests!! 🌩️📖
“We were so impressed with how thoughtfully crafted your activity books were they made a wonderful resource for our visiting families (lots of enthusiasm about them being available in Spanish too!). All the materials were flying off the table I had to restock nonstop! You guys were a perfect addition to our programming.”
-Nathalie Rodriguez, Museum Educator
They also had their Museum Players conduct a Stormy Story Time with Henry and the Hurricane, and it was a huge hit.
Thank you for the incredible collaboration! ❤️
#MiamiChildrensMuseum #communitypartnership #Storytime #KidsCanBeHeroHelpers #HurricanePreparedness
🦸♂️ Happy Father’s Day to our everyday heroes!
To every father, grandfather, father figure, and caregiver thank you for your strength, patience, and love. You are a source of comfort, guidance, and support for so many children and families.
Today we celebrate YOU and the difference you make every day. Your impact reaches farther than you may ever realize.
Wishing all the incredible fathers and father figures a Happy Father’s Day! 💙
#HappyFathersDay #StrongerThanTheStorm #FathersDay #FatherFigures #GoodFunForBadDays
Henry’s Weather Adventure ☔️🥵
This week Henry is visiting rainy Texas and Louisiana, stormy communities in the Northeast, America’s hot spot, and wildfire areas in the West.
Every state experiences different weather, but one thing stays the same being prepared helps families and communities feel confident. Make sure to visit our website to download our resources and PSA’s to help you and your communities stay prepared not scared.
What weather are YOU seeing where you live?
Drop your state below and Henry might visit your community in next week’s Weather Adventure!
#StrongerThanTheStorm #HenryAndTheHurricane #PreparedNotScared #WeatherAdventure #KidsPreparedness FamilyPreparedness WeatherReady HurricanePreparedness EmergencyPreparedness WeatherKids StrongerTogether
Are you at #FTEM2026?!
Just two spots remain at our Psychological First Aid training!
Thursday, June 4 | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Regency 3
This full-day session will equip you with:
• The 8 core actions of Psychological First Aid
• Strategies to reduce children’s distress after traumatic events
• Tools to foster short and long-term adaptive coping
• Practical skills for shelter and emergency response settings
A Certificate of Completion will be provided to all attendees.
Don’t miss this opportunity to build critical skills for protecting our youngest community members. 💛
#PsychologicalFirstAid #EmergencyManagement #FTEM2026 #ChildrensMentalHealth DisasterResponse FIU
