By Samantha Santana
The Wrightsville Beach Children’s Museum will host two children’s hurricane safety events in preparation for the North Carolina coast’s 2014 hurricane season, which lasts from June 1 through the end of November.
Both events, scheduled for May 31 and June 26, are part of the museum’s free monthly children’s program.
Madeline Flagler, Wrightsville Beach Museum of History director, said teaching children about hurricanes could be informative and interesting.
“We want to talk about hurricanes, but in child-friendly terms. It won’t seem foreign and scary, so they’ll be familiar with it,” Flagler said.
Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach are prone to hurricanes, Flagler said, so teaching kids about natural disasters is important.
“With the kinds of hurricanes and natural disasters we’ve had all over the world, there’s some interesting information geared toward children about why it happens,” she explained. “There’s a lot that is really interesting.”
Steve Pfaff, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Wilmington, said by teaching children about hurricane preparedness, families and friends will learn, too.
“Teaching kids is one of the most important things,” Pfaff said. “Kids are wanting to be so helpful and can teach their families. They become advocates for us and help us spread the world.”
The 2014 season could be the worst hurricane season ever and individuals should prepare, Pfaff said.
“We want children, adults and anyone coming to Wilmington to know this is going to be the worst hurricane season ever,” Pfaff said, stressing the seriousness with which each season should be treated. “Every place has its unique hazards … Wilmington has hurricanes. It takes a partnership to get this information out there. … It’s a variety of partners to keep people in the loop about hurricanes.”
Both events will run from 10-10:45 a.m. at the museum where kids will create crafts and read books about hurricanes.
Register by May 29 for the May 31 event to be entered in a raffle. Register by June 24 for the June 26 event to be entered in a raffle.
“Registration isn’t required, but it is suggested. We draw a raffle for the book that we will read from the names of the children that have registered,” Flagler said.
Light refreshments will be served and space is limited. To register, call 910-256-2569.
For more information about hurricane preparedness, visit www.readync.org
