Alabama is expecting Hurricane Isaias to strike this weekend, bringing heavy rains, flooding, strong winds and possible tornadoes. With extreme weather becoming more common, Sesame Street released a new special called "Storm on Sesame Street" to show how monsters can deal with storms. Sesame Workshop also launched a new initiative to help children and families prepare for and cope with natural disasters.
Alana Schreiber with WWNO in New Orleans spoke with longtime Sesame Street resident Grover, about how kids can prepare.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Grover, can you tell me about the storm on Sesame Street? What happened?
Okay, okay. So yes, we had a very big storm on Sesame Street. There was lots of rain and wind and thunder and lightning. And some people said it was raining cats and dogs. I did not see any cats and dog fall out of the sky, but it was a very big storm.
How did you prepare for the storm? What precautions did you take to not only help yourself, but also help your friends and neighbors?
First of all, by listening to those people who tell you the weather on TV. We knew a storm was coming. So we could prepare and all the grownups on Sesame Street, they made sure our homes and neighborhood were ready for the storms. Yeah, yeah, so we had lots of canned food and water and batteries and put all of those things in a bag — a go bag — along with other very important things like family photos. And teddy bears and that sort of thing and and we had that ready to go just in case we had to leave.
Very smart, a go bag, yeah. Well, Grover, one thing I know about you is that you love superheroes. How can you be a superhero during a natural disaster? What did you learn about helping your community?
First of all, the best thing you can do is check in on your neighbors. During a storm or even if there is no storm at all, it is just a good thing to check in on your friends and neighbors and make sure they are doing okay. Yeah, so that is the first step. And then to follow through if they need help. If they need something to eat because they did not go to the store, you can offer them something to eat or a blanket or a battery or flashlight if you have an extra.
Grover, what do you do when you feel scared during a storm? How do you handle big feelings?
Oh, yeah. Well, everybody gets big feelings down there. And I find that if I get scared during a storm, say, I look for my mommy or a friend and I go give them a big hug. Because when you give a hug, guess what? You also get a hug. Yeah. And getting hugs feels really good. And it makes all those big feelings kind of disappear for a little bit.
Well before we go, Grover, I don't know if you've heard the news, but we have a big storm coming this weekend and some kids might be feeling a little scared. So what can you say to them now to make them feel a little less frightened or a little alone?
Okay, well, storms can be scary. Adults say overwhelming. I think that is just another word for scary. But you have to remember that all storms that come, they also go. Right? They also go. They will pass. And if you are kind to your neighbors and you help each other out, it will feel like it passes even more quickly.