Every year, there are a number of natural disasters that

affect many people.

Even if you are not directly affected, the television

coverage of these events can be scary,

especially to young children.

Several years ago, we featured a week-long story about a

hurricane on Sesame Street.

This storyline allowed us to provide children with

strategies to help them cope with their emotions when faced

with a natural disaster.

So watch with your child and talk about any fears or

concerns he or she might have.

[MUSIC PLAYING - SESAME STREET THEME]

CHILDREN: [SINGING]

Can you tell me how to get, can you tell me how to get--

Sunny day sweeping the clouds away.

On my way to where the air is sweet.

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

Can you tell me how to get--

Come and play.

Everything's A-OK.

Friendly neighbors there, that's where we meet.

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street?

[LAUGHING]

MARIA: Hi.

Welcome to Sesame Street.

Look at this.

LUIS: The hurricane made a real mess.

There was so much wind and rain.

MILES: Yeah, but we'll have everything cleaned up soon.

LUIS: Oh, yeah.

ALAN: Hey, thanks for helping me clean up, Miles.

MILES: No problem.

GABI: I can't believe the hurricane blew

away the tire swing.

MILES: Boy, that was some wind.

BIG BIRD: Well, Radar, the hurricane is all over.

Now we can go back home to my nest.

Wow.

Look at this mess.

Don't worry, Radar.

Everybody's cleaning it all up.

GORDON: Wow, the street really is a mess, Big Bird.

But it doesn't look like there's been too much damage.

Thank goodness Oscar went to Bob's.

BIG BIRD: And his trash can was there, too.

GORDON: Yeah.

BIG BIRD: Oh, oh no.

I wonder if my nest is a mess.

Now come on, Radar, let's go see.

GORDON: You know what, Big Bird?

I'll go with you.

BIG BIRD: Oh, OK, Gordon, thanks.

Oh, wow, look at all this stuff.

GORDON: Yeah.

BIG BIRD: Wow.

Whew.

Oh, wow, look at the doors.

GORDON: Oh, I see.

BIG BIRD: Oh.

GORDON: Wow, that was some strong wind last night.

BIG BIRD: Jeepers.

Well, what about my nest?

GORDON: Oh my.

BIG BIRD: Oh--

Gordon.

GORDON: Oh no.

BIG BIRD: My home!

My nest, my everything.

GORDON: Big Bird, Big Bird, Big Bird, it's all right.

It's all right.

BIG BIRD: No it's not.

GORDON: You're right, you're right, Big Bird.

It's not all right.

But it will be all right.

BIG BIRD: But my nest.

What happened to my nest?

GORDON: Well, the wind was so strong that it

just blew it all apart.

BIG BIRD: Oh no.

Oh, [CRYING].

GORDON: It's all right, Big Bird.

I'm here with you.

WOMAN: Oh boy.

[MUTTERING]

WOMAN: What a mess.

MAN: I can't believe the wind can do all that, you know?

BIG BIRD: My nest, my home.

MARIA: Don't worry, Big Bird.

We're all going to help you, and we're going to fix this.

BIG BIRD: My nest, my home.

GABI: Yeah, Big Bird.

My mom and dad are great at fixing things, remember?

BIG BIRD: My nest, my home.

LUIS: Hey everybody, I think I have a plan.

BIG BIRD: My nest, my home.

LUIS: Yeah, well, that's what this is about, Big Bird,

fixing up your home.

As we can see, there's been a lot of damage done here.

BIG BIRD: A lot of damage?

Oh my nest, my home.

MARIA: Well, that's what Luis is trying to

tell you, Big Bird.

We can fix this.

BIG BIRD: Really?

MARIA: Yes.

LUIS: Yeah, I can fix these doors up like new.

BIG BIRD: Oh.

But I want them just like old.

LUIS: Well, that's what I mean.

I mean we'll all work together.

And we'll clean this place up and make it just

like the way it was.

We'll put the doors up and the mailbox.

BIG BIRD: Oh.

OK.

Ha ha, so we could be home tonight, sleeping in my nest.

Do you hear that, Radar?

We'll be home tonight.

MARIA: No, no, no, Big Bird.

We can't get it all done by tonight.

GORDON: Even with everybody working together, Big Bird,

it's a lot of work.

ALAN: It's just going to take some time, Big Bird.

BIG BIRD: But time--

my nest, my home.

Where will I stay?

WOMAN: You can stay with us.

GORDON: You can come hang at our place tonight.

[EVERYONE OFFERING HELP]

BIG BIRD: But I can't stay with everybody.

I'm only one bird.

SUSAN: Oh, but Big Bird, there's lots of birdseed stew

left at our house from last night.

GORDON: Yep.

BIG BIRD: Oh, OK.

Then I'll stay with you.

Thanks a lot, Susan.

SUSAN: Oh, you're welcome.

MARIA: OK, let's get to work.

PEOPLE: All right.

BIG BIRD: My nest, my home.

LUIS: Oh, Big Bird, we need your help.

BIG BIRD: Me?

GORDON: Yeah, well it's your nest, your home.

You can show us where everything goes.

LUIS: Like where the doors go.

BIG BIRD: Oh.

Well that's easy.

The blue doors go right here.

And then there's the kind of pinky door.

And then there's that peach-colored one that goes

over there.

ALAN: All right.

What about the mailbox, Big Bird?

BIG BIRD: Oh, I'll show you.

MARIA: OK.

Step right in here.

Careful, now, Big Bird.

Right there.

All right.

Good.

BIG BIRD: Right over here.

MARIA: Yeah.

SNUFFLEUPAGUS: Bird.

Oh, Bird.

Hey, Bird, what--

Bird!

Your nest, your home.

What happened?

BIG BIRD: The hurricane happened, Snuff.

SNUFFLEUPAGUS: Oh dear.

Poor bird.

Oh, that makes me feel sad.

BIG BIRD: Oh, why do you feel sad, Snuffy?

SNUFFLEUPAGUS: Because the hurricane messed up your