PR Resources Samples and Resources (Gold Mine) Crisis and Safety Communications Weather-Related and Natural Disasters

• Emergency Management Institute; FEMA Training Programs - FEMA
• Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center 
• US Ready - Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools
• Helping Children After a Natural Disaster (A bilingual website site for educators and families)
• "Crisis Communication Nuts and Bolts: A communicator’s guide to the things you never think of before the crisis hits" ( NSPRA E-Network newsletter)
• Safety Planning and Communication Basics (NSPRA)

• Earthquakes Preparedness Guide - (Occupational Safety and Health Administration Website)
• The Great Shake Out (California)

Sample Communication (Updated 2024):

• Return to School Plans Following Hurricane Helene (Spartanburg District Five, S.C.)
• Hurricane Helene Relief: Emergency Resources for School Community (Buncombe County Schools, N.C.)
• Hurricane Helene Relocation Information Pinellas County Schools (Fla.)
• Hurricane Helene Updates School District of Palm Beach County (Fla.)
• Hurricane Helene Updates (Anderson School District One, S.C.)
• Superintendent Video Message: Hurricane Helene Updates (Anderson School District One, S.C.)
• BCPS Modifies Operations in Preparation for Hurricane Milton (Broward County Public Schools, Fla.)
• Recovering from Hurricane Helene (Citrus County School District, Fla.)
• Hurricane Milton Updates (Orange County Public Schools, Fla.)

Planning and Preparedness

• Current Disaster Responses (FEMA)
• Practical Tips for Hurricane Prep (NSPRA)
• Hurricanes: Prepare, Stay Safe, Return Home (Ready: Department of Homeland Security)
• Hurricane Resources and Relief (National Education Association)
• Hurricane Safety (American Red Cross)
• National Hurricane Center

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Presentations

• "Weathering the Storm" presentation  from 2018 NSPRA National Seminar by Greg Turchetta (Collier County Schools, Fla.) and Justin Elbert (Klein ISD, Texas)
• Building support for a bond after a hurricane crisis - 2018 NSPRA Gold Medallion Winner - Spring Branch Independent School District, Houston, Texas

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Articles

• "A Case Study in Crisis Communication: Expanding Your Reach with Social Media" and Hurricane Isaac ( NSPRA E-Network e-newsletter)

​Videos

• Hurricane Florence Story: The Riggs Family (2018) - NSPRA Award-Winning Video - New Hanover County Schools, Wilmington, N.C.
• Behind the Scenes: How We Do It | Hurricane Ian  (2022) - Sarasota County (Fla.) Schools
• Hurricane Ida | One Year Anniversary Video (2022) -  St. Charles Parish (La.) Public Schools

• Article
  • Tornado Response Information (NSPRA)

Closure and Update Messaging (Updated 2024):

• Eaton Fire school extended closure message from superintendent (2025) - Pasadena (Calif.) Unified School District 
• Eaton Fire school closure message from superintendent (2025) - Pasadena (Calif.) Unified School District 
• Eaton Fire school closure message (2025) - Arcadia (Calif.) Unified School District
• NCAR Fire update (2022) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District
• Marshall Fire transportation update (2022) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District
• Marshall Fire superintendent message (2022) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District
• Marshall Fire update (2021) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District
• Marshall Fire superintendent message (2021) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District
• Creek Fire superintendent message video (2020) - Sierra Unified School District (Calif.)

Website/Newsletter Articles

• With strong planning, practice, and collaboration among public safety partners, BVSD is ready to respond to natural disasters and human-caused emergencies (2024) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District
• Driving towards the fire, ‘that’s what we do’ newsletter article (2022) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District

Reopening and Recovery Messaging

• Reopening message to families (2025) - Arcadia (Calif.) Unified School District
• After the Marshall Fire video (2024) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District
• Supporting impacted students social media post (2022) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District
• Why our Marshall Fire support continues (2023) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District
• Cal-Wood struggling to survive fire, pandemic (2020) - Boulder Valley (Colo.) School District

Social Media Posts

• Pasadena (Calif.) Unified School District
  • Closure Update: Pasadena (Calif.) Unified School District (2025)
  • Recovery Update: Pasadena (Calif.) Unified School District (2025)
• Monterey County Office of Education 
  • Monterey County Office of Education (2020)
  • Monterey County Office of Education (2020)
  • Monterey County Office of Education (2020)
  • Monterey County Office of Education (2020)
• Wildfire Safety Social Media Toolkit (ready.gov)

Presentations

• "Weathering the Storm" presentation  (2018 NSPRA National Seminar)

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Videos

• G.W. Carver Middle School Fire Relief Efforts (2021) NSPRA Award-Winning Video - Transformation Waco (Texas)

Additional Resources

• Helping Children After a Wildfire: Tips for Caregivers and Teachers (National Association of School Psychologists)
• Current Disaster Responses (FEMA)
• Wildfire Safety (American Red Cross)
• Wildfire Preparedness (National Weather Service)
• Wildfires (ready.gov)