Small children can be particularly vulnerable when natural
disasters strike. They may be unable to understand what turned
their lives and those of their families upside down. They may be
confused, angry, fearful or saddened -- and that may manifest
itself in behavior such as bed-wetting, sleep problems and
separation anxiety, according to the Federal Emergency
Management Agency. In a disaster, children are most afraid the
event will happen again, they will lose someone close to them or
they will be left alone or separated from their family, FEMA
says. Jane Farish, a retired lecturer in child development at
Stanford University and author of "When Disaster Strikes:
Helping Young Children Cope," offers these tips for parents and
caregivers seeking to help their young children deal with the
aftermath of a disaster. 1. Children need to be with their
family and to feel safe. Physical reassurance is a great comfort
for children. You can give your child a sense of security by
physically holding and reassuring them. U