Earthquakes can hit unexpectedly. Hurricane season runs from May 15th to November 30th and affects the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific coastal areas. A hurricane, also known as a typhoon, is a type of violent, high-speed, rotating, cyclonic tropical storm with low pressure at its center. From space, it looks like a spiral.
Get Prepared: Create An Emergency Supply Kit and Family Plan
Ready.gov provides steps for building a to-go bag and making a family emergency plan. They also have a website just for kids: FEMA Ready Kids with kid-oriented steps, following the Mountain Lion Family as they
- create a kit,
- make a plan, and
- know the facts about hurricanes and other emergencies.
After your child completes these steps, they graduate from Readiness U.
Earthquakes
USGS provides an Earthquakes for Kids preparedness website where kids can learn about the latest quakes and explore the science and history of earthquakes, including
- earthquake animations,
- geological facts,
- the work of a geophysicist, and
- science fair project ideas.
Different Types of Storms
What's the difference between a hurricane and other types of storms?
Tornado: A rotating column of air appearing as a funnel-shaped cone, the downward extension of a cumulonimbus cloud in contact with the earth, with winds that reach up to 300 miles per hour. Tornado season runs from March through August. Also called a twister or cyclone.
Tsunami: A giant wave caused by earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, or meteorite, typically occurring in the Pacific Ocean.
Hurricane: A severe tropical storm with heavy rains and winds 74 miles per hour or stronger rotating around an "eye," or center. Also called a typhoon.
Hurricane Research, Storm Prediction, and Tracking
NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, provides an educational website about hurricanes designed for K-12 kids. You can
- Find out the origin of the word "hurricane," based in the religions of past civilizations;
- Watch at hurricane survival video;
- Play Storm Tracker, an online virtual experience in which kids use data to predict storms; and
- Find out what's new in storm research.
Follow an Active Tropical Storm
At the National Hurricane Center, you can
- Get updates and advisories on active hurricanes;
- Take a look at the Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide (pdf);
- Download blank hurricane tracking charts; and
- Find the Emergency Management Office in your area for more specific local resources.
The best way to prepare for a storm or earthquake is to learn about it and know what to expect. Make a family emergency plan and create an emergency supply kit and a to-go bag in case of evacuation. Emergency preparedness applies to many types of emergencies and can serve to lessen anxiety in times when it matters most.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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