Help Protect Your Child During Times of Severe Weather

The Hillsborough County Public Schools' Transportation Department works closely with families and schools in protecting our "precious cargo". We wanted you to be aware of the resources that are available to help you teach your child about severe weather and about keeping safe during thunderstorms, hurricanes and lightening.

Elementary schools will be receiving copies of three severe weather-themed storybooks intended to be read in the classroom by first, second, and third grade students. While we cannot prevent severe weather, there is much each of us can do to prevent injury to ourselves and damage to our property. Awareness begins with each individual, no matter how young.

To that end, through a partnership with the Department of Community Affairs and the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Division of Emergency Management has commissioned these storybooks for children throughout the state.

The storybook for first graders, The Adventures of Rabbit, Possum, and Squirrel in The 30/30 Rule, teaches young children how they can protect themselves from lightning strikes.

Professor Tinkermeister and the Wacky, Whiz-Bang, Weather-Watching Wonder, allows the second grade reader a chance to learn about and protect themselves from the powerful nature of thunderstorms while traveling on a fantastic journey in a magical machine.

In The Acorn Club, third graders will learn about how they can create a Disaster Supply Kit for their families to prepare for a hurricane. Each of these books was created at the appropriate reading level for each grade. The science is presented in a matter-of-fact and non-threatening manner so as not to create undo fears in our children.

Each of the books also comes with an accompanying guide for teachers and parents. Each guide explains some of the science presented in the books and answers questions that children are likely to have while reading the stories. The guides also explain how the books can be used to help our children to become better readers. The guides can be found on-line at http://www.floridadisaster.org/kids/teachplan.htm under “Teacher Planning.” We hope you find the books and accompanying guides for teachers and parents helpful. Thank you for your continued support in helping Florida’s children protect themselves from the hazards of severe weather.