We are on the east coast and have already had our brush with Hurricane Irene this week. It looked like it was heading right for us for a couple days, but has ended up heading north. We did have two days of heavy wind and rain, though. I talked to Princess about it early in the week. They don't do hurricane coverage on the Disney channel, so she wouldn't have come across it on TV, but I didn't want her to overhear something at school and get in a panic. I told her that there was a hurricane out in the ocean and we'd probably getting some wind and rain, but it was too early to tell how much yet. I told her that no matter what, Dad and I would make sure she was safe.
Luckily, I was able to tell her the next day that it looked like the hurricane was going to "stay in the ocean and drive right by us". I told her there would be rain, wind and maybe even thunder and lightening, but she'd be safe. She verified with me that she'd be safe from the hurricane that day as I dropped her off at school each morning last week. She wanted to be sure that I'd come and get her if things changed. She said her classmate said her house is closer to the ocean than ours and so she is in big danger. I assured her that her friend was going to be just fine; we were all going to be just fine.
So if you are hunkering down for Hurricane Irene, talk to your kids about it. Explain to them what a hurricane is. Show them a map of the path she's taking. Let them help you gather up supplies and make preparations. Tell them what to expect (lots of rain, loud wind, thunder, lightening, banging of branches against the house, things flying around outside). Tell them what might happen after the storm (possibly no electricity, standing water in the streets, trees blocking the roads).
Most of all, tell them that you are going to be right with them and that you are going to keep them safe.
As GI Joe used to say during Saturday morning cartoons in the 80's, "Knowing is half the battle." Telling your children what to expect, how you are preparing for it and the ways you will keep them safe will go a long way in easing anxiety. Hopefully it will help you avoid being trapped inside with a kid in meltdown mode!
(from Last Mom www.lastmom.blogspot.com)
In our state, you have to post emergency procedures, etc. to get your foster license. Every month you have to do foster drills. Dee heard all the talk of Hurricane Irene because we have a close relative on the East Coast. But she said, "I know. It's on my door." I told her we dont' get hurricanes in the Midwest, but let's talk about tornadoes and earth quakes (our state is on a fault line). But I told her if ever there was imminent danger, we'd pack our car early and start driving in the other way. We have to make sure we are all safe...including our dogs, and if they are not going to be rescued, we are going to be proactive.
ReplyDelete