Chapter 11: Big Weather & Earth
Lily: "Ground shakes? Drop, cover, hold on!"
The earth and the sky can do big things: shake, storm, flood, burn and get very hot or cold. Rangers learn one action for each one, practise it with a grown-up, and always stay with their crew.
What Rangers know
| When this happens | Rangers do this |
|---|---|
| Earthquake (the ground shakes) | Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck under a sturdy table, or by an inside wall with your arms, and hold on until the shaking stops. Outside: move away from walls, poles, trees and wires, then drop and cover. Don't run outside during shaking. |
| After an earthquake | Go out carefully with your grown-up. Stay out of cracked or broken buildings. Never climb on rubble. Expect small shakes after; drop, cover and hold on again. |
| Big wave from the sea (tsunami) | If you're near the sea and the ground shakes hard for a long time, or the sea suddenly pulls far back, go to high ground or far inland straight away with your grown-up. Don't wait to watch. |
| Thunder and lightning | If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough. Go inside a solid building or a closed car. Stay away from water, tall trees, metal poles and hilltops. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back outside. |
| Big wind, hurricane or tornado | Go to the strongest inside room on the lowest floor, away from windows; cover your head. In a tent, go to the shelter your camp helpers point to. |
| Flood | Water rising? Climb up high. Never walk, play or ride in flood water (see Chapter 5). |
| Landslide / mudslide | Listen for rumbling, cracking trees or rocks falling. Move away from the path of the slide, uphill and to the side, with your grown-up. |
| Wildfire and smoke | Leave when grown-ups or helpers say so; don't wait. Cover your nose and mouth with a cloth, stay low in smoke, and stay together. |
| Very hot day | Shade, water, rest. Play in the cool morning or evening. Wear a hat and light clothes. Never stay in a closed car or closed tent in the heat, and never leave anyone else there. |
| Too hot: body signs | Headache, dizzy, very red or very pale, sick tummy, or no sweat when hot: stop, shade, sip water, put a cool wet cloth on, tell a grown-up. Confused or fainting means get help fast. |
| Very cold | Layers, dry socks, hat; more under you than on top (Chapter 5). Shivering that won't stop: tell a grown-up. |
Every disaster: stay with your grown-up and your buddy. Go to your meeting place if you get apart (Chapter 3), take your go bag (Card #GB1) only if it's right by the door, and listen to camp helpers.
Ranger checklist
- ☐ I can show drop, cover, hold on.
- ☐ I know to stay out of broken buildings after a quake.
- ☐ I know: big shake by the sea, or the sea pulls back → go high now.
- ☐ I go inside when I hear thunder.
- ☐ I know the strongest room or shelter for big winds.
- ☐ I know the signs of being too hot and what to do.
- ☐ I never stay in a closed car or tent in the heat.
- ☐ I know my meeting place.
Earn your badge (Weather Ready ⛈️, new area)
| Level | Requirement |
|---|---|
| ❤️ Heart | Say: "Ground shakes? Drop, cover, hold on!" |
| 🥉 Bronze | Show drop, cover, hold on; say one action for thunder, wind and heat. |
| 🥈 Silver | Practise an earthquake or storm drill with your family or group. |
Watch and learn
- EP13 High Ground, Stay Out (#013)
- EP09–11 warmth episodes (#009–#011)
- Go Bag #GB1
- Planned: Booms in the Night; Safe Sleep Spot
- Hygiene reel HY09 Happy Feet (heat and wet)
Fact-checked Oct 21, 2026, approved by David McKellips.