Are You at Risk?

Description
Working with students so they accurately assess their risk of natural disasters, understand the nature of media coverage of these events, and develop an emergency preparedness plan can help them reframe the problem and reduce their stress.

In this activity, students determine which types of natural disasters are most likely to strike their area. They then conduct interviews and do research on those natural disasters. They also discuss the geologic and geographic factors that make a particular place more or less at risk for a given natural disaster. Students explore the effect that pervasive news coverage of natural disasters (those that occur locally, as well as those striking outside the community) does to stress levels of people who read, watch, or listen to the reports. Finally, students research and report what individuals and families can do to prepare for natural disasters most common to their area.

Relevant Standards
This activity fulfills science and health education standards [PDF - 156 KB].

Objectives
Students will:

• Research a variety of natural disasters and determine those most likely to affect their community
• Research through the Internet and community interviews natural disasters that have affected their community and record their findings
• Research the geologic and geographic factors that make a particular place more or less at risk for a given natural disaster and record their findings
• Discuss the effect of news coverage of natural disasters on stress levels and how to evaluate such coverage
• Research and discuss emergency preparedness measures

BAM! Body and Mind Resources:

• News You Can Use — Gives students tips for de-stressing and getting useful news.
• Tsunami — Students learn what tsunamis are, how they can affect the health of people directly in their path, and general emergency preparedness information.