Emotional competency is defined as developed ability and skills in the areas of self-awareness, self-regulation, social awareness, and relationship management. These skills are nurtured, developed, and practiced until they become competencies and serve as a resource when a tragic event occurs. They are relatively undeveloped in very young children and mature as children move toward adulthood. In the aftermath of a disaster, children's reactions will depend on how strong their emotional competency is. In this article, the authors explore ways to build the emotional competency knowledge and skills of the early education workforce as an additional strategy for disaster preparation and recovery.