When you drop your children off at school and a disaster strikes, will they be safe until you’re reunited with them?

A 2010 disaster preparedness report, established by Save the Children U.S. Programs, indicates that multiple states are unprepared. Steven Fisher, head of communications, said the organization provides various services, including helping communities be prepared for natural disasters.

“About 67 million kids are separated from their families on any given week day, whether they’re in child care or in school. That means it’s up to the caregivers, the school officials or the child care center owners to protect those kids,” Mr. Fisher said.

The report identified four standards to determine whether schools are prepared for a disaster; plans for evacuation, reunification with families, evacuation for special needs kids at child care facilities, and evacuation plans at schools.

The report said 38 states and the District of Columbia did not meet all four standards. Mr. Fisher said Missouri is one of seven states that met none. The goal, he added, is to “really use this report as a tool to encourage states to do more” to ensure school children are safe when a disaster strikes.

One local school official challenges the findings. Beery Johnson, assistant director of student services and safety for the St. Joseph School District, said all public schools in St. Joseph have a disaster plan that’s evaluated annually to make sure all contact information is updated. “Within each school, there are also different groups of people that are in charge of certain activities that would go along with the plan,” Mr. Johnson said.

Each school conducts drills throughout the year to ensure students and teachers know what to do and where to go.

“We want parents to know that we do have a plan,” Mr. Johnson said. “We know they’re very concerned about their child and we are there to take care of them.”

He said there are different plans for various disasters or emergencies, such as what to do if there’s an intruder in or around the school, a fire, tornado or even an earthquake. Depending on the disaster, emergency responders will be involved and the media informed, to make sure parents are aware of a situation.

“I have four kids in the public schools, so it’s important to me. Plus, my wife is a school counselor,” Mr. Johnson said.

Sarah Lawson can be reached at sarah.lawson@newspressnow.com.