Thunder and Lightning and Hurricanes…Oh, my!

Today is June 1st! Hard to believe, I know. Many view today as the official start of the summer months. School children across the country are counting down the final days of the school year. In central North Carolina, and all areas of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, June 1st also signifies the official beginning to the 2009 Hurricane Season. In my home, the arrival of June 1st brings a bit of apprehension.

My husband and I lived in NC for 6 years before moving to Rochester, NY, in 1995. We spent four years there then returned to NC in April 1999 with our two children ages 2½ and 6 months. We moved into our new home at the end of August. Not even three weeks later, in the late hours of September 15th and wee hours of the morning of September 16th, we found ourselves huddled together on a mattress in our downstairs hallway as Hurricane Floyd came to town.

Mother Nature put on quite a show that night! The nearly constant high winds and pelting rain were accompanied by some of the most amazing lightning and thunder I have ever experienced. The wind gusts were quite frightening as it felt as if the house moved with each gust. The rolling thunder vibrated the walls and windows. Needless to say, it was a bit much for our kids.

Okay. It was a bit much for us and MUCH too much for our kids.

Thankfully, my daughter was too young to remember that night. (It was a lightning strike a couple of years ago that exacerbated her fear of thunderstorms) My son is another story! We revisit the experience of Hurricane Floyd each June and September. "Remember when…"

Suffice it to say he’s not too fond of thunderstorms or hurricanes! Although, his fear and apprehension have decreased over the past 10 years as he has grown older. Talking about it each year has helped.

We also take advantage of the Hurricane Readiness information that is readily available this time of year through special TV programming, newspapers, radio, etc. Discussing and understanding the ‘what ifs’ and being prepared for the possibilities, such as loss of electricity or flooding, significantly help my kids feel more confident and at ease.

Will we see a hurricane up close and personal this season? I don’t know. It is possible. However, what I DO know is that we will certainly experience severe thunderstorms and perhaps even a few nervous moments as tornadoes form in the area during a typical NC late spring-summer-early fall. Being prepared for a hurricane means we will also be prepared for severe thunderstorms.

Being prepared and knowing what to expect make it much easier for our kids to sleep at night…our weather radio and their earplugs help, too!

Growing Healthy Kids, Sowing Healthy Habits...Be Prepared!
Maria