Learn how to cope with stress after a natural disaster

Overview: In Pierce City, Missouri - a town utterly devastated by last weekend's string of tornadoes - residents waded through a wasteland of wreckage on Tuesday and vowed to rebuild.

After students read "Pierce City surveys devastation by weekend storms" present the following questions:

RESOURCES • CNN.com: More severe weather rolls through ravaged area  • National Weather Service  • Handling Stress after a Natural Disaster  • Emotional Reactions to Disasters  • FEMA: Coping With Stress After A Disaster

1. What type of damage did a tornado recently inflict on Pierce City, Missouri? How many people died as a result of the tornado? What type of challenges do you think the city's residents will face as they begin to get on with their lives?

2. Ask students: What types of severe weather warnings or natural disasters have you experienced in your community? How did you feel when you heard the warning? What did you do? How did the event affect you? Then, inform your class that natural disasters, such as tornadoes, do more than physical damage to those whose lives and property lie in a storm's destructive path. According to mental health experts, "The emotional consequences of disasters can be far-reaching and long lasting. Stress can surface in many forms and it often appears weeks or months after the traumatic event." Refer students to the resources listed to learn about the different stress reactions that people can have in the face of a natural disaster and the ways to cope with stress after a disaster. Have students share their findings in class discussion.

3. Use this opportunity to have each student conduct a personal inventory of the things in his/her life that he/she feels are the most important. Ask students: In the event of a natural disaster, which people or things would you most want to protect? Why? Have students write their responses to these questions in their journals. If possible, ask students to share their responses with the class and discuss the similarities and differences in their lists.

4. Be sure that students know how to care for themselves in the event of a natural disaster in your area. Ask someone who works on an emergency planning board in your town to visit your classroom and explain steps people need to take when a disaster strikes. Have students create posters that attract attention so that others will stop to read them and that explain how to be ready in the event of a natural disaster in the community.