[babydawn]

After reading through the thread about who has actually been in a natural disaster, I am wondering what to tell our children to do. I get so stressed about this subject. The most major threat we have where I live are earthquakes. What if my kids are in school (I know the school probably has emergency plans if that were to happen), what if they are walking home. I don't know what to tell them. Stuff like this really stresses me out. We have had a lot of talks about what to do if we are all at home, but none if we aren't at home. Does anyone have any good suggestions?

[Diva]

Hi !!!
I think it is SO important to teach your children whatEVER you can (keeping in mind their age and level of understanding) Because, no matter how scary it is, it empowers them if they know what to do if and when it happens to them. It also helps you as the parent and helps them to understand the seriousness of the situation when you have to have their total cooperation in doing something DURING the actual event!! ( been there, done that many times) We live in tornado alley, and the past 2 years or so, the tornado's have started getting VERY close to our home (within blocks this past year) So.....my boys know what they need to do in case of a tornado here at the home, they know that when I say its serious that they need to put their listening ears on and do EVERYTHING they are told PROMPTLY! they are taught in school what to do also. They actually have drills at school, like fire drills, so the children know what to do in case of a tornado. It IS scary, but remember....KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!! keep it on their level, and continue teaching them as they get older adding things that are age appropriate!
Hope this helped you a bit hun!!!!

[westbrook]

babydawn,
I to live in earthquake country. Make a point to go to the school and ask them! you might be surprised to find the only plan the school has it to release children as parents come to get them. Great if you are a SAHM but if you are employed then what? as you know you may be at work 40 miles from the childrens school, a bridge is down and it may take you 8 hours to get home.
It is peace of mind to know exactly what the school is going to do. You might find other parents that you trust to pick your children up in the event of an emergency and know your children are safe no matter how long it takes your to get there.
What if (I hate what if's but needs to be addressed) you can't get there? what if you will never get there? if you knew your children were safe with a family/friends that had your parents number.
Having a safe house is where you have backpacks made up of your childrens personal things.. jamies, dolly, truck, photos, extra meds if needed, social serurity numbers, phone numbers, parents information and other important papers.
You tell your children that if there is an earthquake or an emergency, Mary or Bill will come get you and give you the secret password (we all know about those... yellow dragon, blue dog, ?). Mommy or Daddy will come when we can to get you. But to keep you safe, Mary and Bill will take care of you until we can get there. Or something similar.
Of course you need to adjust your conversaton according to the age of child.
You will need to have a conversation with the school and perhaps other parents, get a group together and discuss this. After all, you may be the parent that keeps others children.
westbrook

[mommysqueek]

We live in Florida and I have talked to my daughter about hurricanes. She knows enough about them from watching the news about Katrina. She knows the devastation that one can do.We have at times had our house boarded up.She has been through the high winds and rain. Luckily we have never been directly hit by one.
At least with hurricans we have a warning and are able to prepare for them. Unlike some of you that live were there are tornados. I don't know, but do they have tornato warnings?
Anyway I'm off the subject. But I think that children should know everything there is to know about protecting themselves. Sometimes telling them may scare them,but I think if they don't know it will be even more scary to them in the event.

[twinzplus3]

I have started by teaching my very young children how to dial 911, when they would need to dial 911 and what to say.

We really are more likely to have emergencies that are not natural disaster related. We have, as a family, helped someone who was hit by a car and another woman who was a little loopy I think because she was diabetic and her blood sugar was low. I've also taught my kids what to do in case of fire and in case they get lost on the subway or don't get off when I do or don't get on when I do. I obviously am careful to make sure that doesn't happen--but I'd rather them have a plan just in case. I can't think of any real natural disasters that have happened here for decades. But being prepared is important.

[babeshades]

mommysqueek ~
I too live in hurricane alley and I have 4 children. 3 of them have been through a major hurricane (category 5), so I know all too well first hand the devestation that accompanies them. You are very fortunate that you have not had to go through that and hopefully you never will. Also, tornados are spawned off hurricanes. I remember in my neighborhood after Andrew where you could see the path where tornadoes had torn through...boats on top of roofs, U-haul trucks on top of businesses, etc etc etc. In the strictly more tornado alley zones they do have warnings, but they do not have the advance notice that we do down here.
It goes without saying that education and information is important to children, and should be given in an age appropriate manner. There are several sites out there that have activities, posters, quizes and tons of information that can be shared with children to educate them about hurricanes. A couple of sites you can check out are:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/kids.shtml
http://www.weatherwizkids.com/hurricane1.htm
http://www.kathimitchell.com/hurri.htm

~babe.

[LazyBear]

Thank you for the valuable information!