How To Make Storm Preparations Fun for Kids
Hurricane Ida was the fifth strongest hurricane to land in the US.
Hurricane season is a dreadful time of the year. Ida recently displaced thousands of families from Louisiana to Maine. Catastrophic tornadoes and heavy rainfall caused extensive flooding and storm damage in the Northeast. Louisiana had 18 billion dollars worth of damage from fallen power lines, destroyed residential and commercial property, and flooding! Overall, Hurricane Ida caused an estimate of 50 billion dollars in damage as one of the fifth strongest hurricanes to land in the US.
Preparing Kids for Hurricane Season
Hurricanes are tracked weeks before they make landfall which allows families to prepare for the storm. Tornadoes are a whole different beast. The average tornado warning time is between 10-15 minutes. Creating a storm preparation plan with your kids could save their lives.
How To Prepare Your Kids for Hurricanes and Tornadoes
It’s natural to panic or feel anxious when the National Weather Service provide warnings for hurricanes and tornadoes. If adults are feeling anxious, then the kids may experience similar uncomfortable emotions. “When The Storm Comes” by Linda Ashman is a great read for kids during hurricane season.
Step 1: Teach kids how to remain calm.
Control Breathing
Practicing breathing exercises will relax the kids and distract them from their anxiety. Inhale deep breaths and exhale slowly.
Think Positively
Encourage your kids to be hopeful and ensure them that everything will be ok. Remind them of happy memories you’ve shared to think of the good times. Use of positive words and affirmations will make your kids feel safe and comfortable.
Sing-Alongs
Began singing some of your kids favorite nursery rhymes or favorite songs. “Baby Shark doo-doo-da-doo-da-doo” makes my niece forget what she was crying about. As a kid, Barney’s clean up song convinced me that picking up my toys were fun. After a stressful day or week, a karaoke night momentarily makes you feel like a superstar. Everyone loves a sing-along.
Step 2: Create a colorful evacuation route
Arts & Craft Session
Grab some crayons, markers, or coloring pencils and let your kids draw a map of your home.
Emergency Meeting Place
It would be fun to use stickers to pin point an emergency meeting place on your kid’s creative maps. Use a bright color to highlight an escape route from each room to your family’s designated meeting place.
Pet Plan
Don’t forget to include your fur babies. You can purchase a bin or crate for your pet to sit in during the storm. Your kids could paint it with some creative designs to personalize it for each pet.
Emergency Drills
Practice your emergency drills bi-monthly or annually with your kids and pets. Create a captains hat. Whoever is wearing the captain hat is the leader of the drill. Kids enjoy being the line leader or captain in charge.
Step 3: Prepare Small Emergency Kits
When my niece assist me with meal prepping, she always grab the cookies and chips instead of the carrots and apples. Kids love to assist with picking out snacks! Allow your kids to pitch in to prepare small emergency kits for your family’s emergency meeting place.
non perishable food products
water bottles
first aid kit
pet snacks
Note: Tornado Tips
-Always take cover in a room without windows (bathroom, closet, basement, or hallway).
-Wear a helmet or cover your head with your arms and hands.
-Try to take cover under a sturdy table or in a bathtub with a blanket or solid covering for extra protection.
-Put on shoes to protect your feet.
-Don’t waste time searching for items, seek shelter immediately.
-Don’t leave your shelter assuming the storm has passed because your surroundings is silent.
-Don’t seek shelter inside of a mobile home.
-Don’t open the windows in your home.
-Remember-
From July to November 30th, Atlantic hurricane season is a scary time for kids and their families. Recently, Hurricane Larry is the fifth hurricane to develop in 2021. With proper preparation, families have a better chance of surviving the storm.
Preparation is Key
-Bee