“Flooding”, “Levee”, “Sand Boils” are becoming all too familiar words to residents all along rivers in Nebraska.

The Missouri River Valley is in the midst of a record-breaking prolonged natural disaster.  As adults, we have knowledge and resources to work through many of the issues associated with the flood.  However, children and youth often do not have the experiences and knowledge necessary to process this disaster.  Even children not directly impacted by the flooding may have questions or concerns.  It is up to us as adults to assist them.

University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension has resources available to guide you in assisting children and youth work through this natural disaster.  The following list are some websites to assist you:

• “Dealing with Disasters” http://flood.unl.edu/families
• “Assisting Children and Youth Cope with Disasters” http://www.extension.iastate.edu/woodbury/news/floodsandyouth.htm
• “Children as Victims of Natural Disasters” http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/extension/documents/children_families/ChildrenVictimsNaturalDisasters.pdf
• “Understand the Impact of Disasters on the Lives of Children and Youth” http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/family/az1341/az1341c.pdf
• “Children, Stress, and Natural Disasters” http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/disaster/teacher/teacher.html
• “Children’s Literature on Floods and Natural Disasters” http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/disaster/teacher/floodbib.html
• “The Great Storm and Flood Recovery:  Children’s Story and Activity Book” http://www.mentorresearch.org/Documents/StormFloodColoringBookParentGuide.pdf
• “American Red Cross “Masters of Disaster” http://www.redcross.org/disaster/masters/

If you have questions, please contact:

• LaDonna Werth UNL Extension Educator
• 128 Nth 6th St – Ste 100
• O’Neil, NE 68763
• (402) 336-2760