Disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, heat waves, and severe storms increasingly affect young people’s daily lives, disrupting housing, schooling, routines, and relationships. In communities with limited capacity to recover, these events can have lasting emotional and practical consequences, especially for families already facing food insecurity, income loss, housing instability, or barriers to accessing help.

Weathering the Storm is a community-based youth workshop developed in coastal Georgia to support emotional well-being through preparation and resilience. The program pairs emotional awareness with practical readiness, helping youth recognize and name their feelings, manage stress, and build confidence and agency.

This session introduces the approach and practical strategies for educators, youth-serving organizations, and community leaders. Participants will explore how preparedness and emotional regulation act as protective factors and leave with tools to integrate resilience, emotional awareness, and connection into youth programming.