“Toto, I’m afraid we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

Unlike Dorothy and her little dog, Toto, in the classic film, The Wizard of Oz, most people and animals affected by tornadoes don’t usually fare as well.  These natural disasters can – and often do – have devastating effects.

While there may not be a real “yellow brick road,” the National Wildlife Federation does have some terrific resources to share on tornadoes, and how educators and families can help young children cope with natural disasters. We first published these tips, tools, and resources in 2013, and our team has now updated and added to them.

So far in 2017, there have been more than 309 tornadoes reported in the United States; over 36 of those during the week of April 1-6 – and that’s no April Fool’s joke!  In fact, in Georgia, they broke a two-day state record with 41 tornadoes. Folks there must have felt like they had been blown into another state!

Springtime warming is the time when flowers begin to bloom; unfortunately, it also spawns a lot of severe weather events such as tornadoes.  To help you be prepared and help your students better understand tornadoes – check out our materials designed to help:

• What are tornadoes?
• What is the link to climate change?
• How can you help kids cope with natural disasters?
• How do you plan for natural disasters?
• Activities and lesson plans.

Sure wish I could click Dorothy’s ruby slippers three times and ensure that tornadoes and other natural disasters won’t occur, but this is real life, and these are real problems needing real, authentic, and hands-on learning to help us cope with extreme weather events.

Click on the links above or visit http://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-USA/Become-an-Eco-School/Tornadoes.aspx  for more information.