Teaching Students Weather Safety

Some students are terrified of severe weather, while some know almost nothing about it. As an educator, you can create a healthy balance between the two by giving your students informed information about severe weather, how it forms, and what to do if it happens. There are several severe weather situations you should cover in class; tornados, severe thunderstorms, flooding, and hurricanes.

Tornados

When people talk about severe weather, tornados are often what come to people’s minds. Tornados are fairly difficult to predict and very dangerous. It is likely your school holds tornado drills already, but students should be informed about what to do during a tornado if they are not in school. A good way to start is by giving students some basic information about what a tornado is and how it forms. Emphasize signs that students should watch out for, such as dark skies, strong thunderstorms, funnel clouds, and more. An explanation of how to receive weather updates could also help them prepare. Weather alerts can be found on TV and online, but something you should emphasize is the importance of a weather radio.

Give examples of where students should seek shelter. If they are home, they should go to a basement or interior room. If outside they should find the nearest building, and if there isn’t one they must find somewhere low to the ground like a ditch. It’s also important to explain what to do after a tornado. Instruct students not to approach power lines or enter damaged buildings. Above all, teach them to remain calm and remember what they have been taught so they can stay safe.

Severe Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms are already dangerous, and severe thunderstorms are worse. As with tornados, give some basic information about thunderstorms and what students should watch for. Gathering clouds are the biggest indication of an incoming threat. Remind students if they can hear thunder, then they are in danger from lightning. If there is any indication of a storm they should immediately seek shelter. Remind students that lightning can reach them even indoors unless they are careful. Provide a list of things to avoid doing during a thunderstorm. Here are some examples: Taking a bath or shower, washing dishes, using electronics that are plugged in, and watching lightning from the porch. If students are stuck outside teach them to keep away from tall buildings and crouch low to the ground.

Lightning is not the only danger during severe thunderstorms. Damaging winds and hail are common with storms as well. Encourage students to keep away from windows during storms. They may be tempted to watch, but stress that wind and hail can break windows and cause serious injury. If students are outside during hail and cannot get inside, it is imperative they protect their head. Like with lightning they should avoid trees, as strong winds can cause tree branches and the trees themselves to fall.

Flooding

The type of flooding your students are most likely to encounter is flash flooding. Flash flooding

happens quickly and sometimes with little warning. One of the most important things you can encourage your students to do is to find out if their home is in a flood risk area. Once they know this, encourage students to have an escape plan prepared. These are two important steps to getting to safety in an emergency. Even if students don’t live in a flood zone, remind them to keep an eye out for rising water, both away from their home and while at it. If a flood warning occurs students must get to higher ground immediately. This may mean evacuating an area, moving to an upper floor, or even the roof of a home. If possible it is ideal for them to bring an emergency kit containing clean water, food, clothes, and medical supplies. If students are in a car make sure they know that no one should drive through flood waters. It is extremely unsafe.

Staying safe after a flood is just as important as staying safe during it. Make students aware that traveling through any flood water is not safe. This water is likely contaminated and could even have live wires hidden underneath it. If students need assistance they should call for help before traveling. Electronics should only be used if they are battery operated. Even if students didn’t bring water with them they must not drink the flood water, as it could make them extremely ill.

Hurricanes

Hurricanes are a large scale event that is usually predicted in advanced. In the event that students do not evacuate for a hurricane, they must take the proper precautions to remain safe until the storm has passed. Staying safe during a hurricane requires students to practice the same safety tips that apply to thunderstorms, flooding, and even tornados. Before a hurricane begins each family should have a disaster plan in place. This includes knowing where to go, what to do, and creating an emergency kit with plenty of food, water, medical supplies, and more. During a hurricane, students should be instructed to remain inside. The sustained winds of a hurricane are extremely dangerous. Instruct students to stay away from windows and doors.

Remind students not to go outside after rain and wind stops. This may be the eye of the storm. Weather radios should be monitored constantly to know when the danger has passed. Students should make no attempt to leave their shelter until an all clear is given. They should keep a distance from standing water, power lines, and debris. Tap water should not be used unless an all clear is given as it could be contaminated from the storm.

These safety tips could save your student’s lives, so make sure you present the information in a serious way. The goal is not to scare your students, just to prepare them. Knowing these tips and information about storms may even give students peace of mind, as they will know what to do in an emergency.