Sesame Street plans to provide resources to help families, including a printed and digital storybook, to help children heal when the things they love are lost, articles and activities that support children and families as they deal with environmental stressors like heat or air quality, and plans to distribute “go bags” with essentials to support families during evacuations and periods of displacement.
It’s an important first step in getting children and families more equipped for dealing with extreme weather events—which most Americans are woefully underprepared for. In one 2025 survey of 2,000 adults by Talker Research, 90% said it’s critical to be prepared for extreme weather, but only 46% had an emergency plan in place.
The episode opens the channel of communication in an age appropriate way, experts say. “It’s covering all of the bases,” says Adam Rainear, associate professor of communication and media at West Chester University, whose work focuses on climate communications. “It’s giving the messaging so that kids are aware and alert, but also not making them afraid of everything around them.” While Elmo and his friend Abby acknowledge their fear, they focus on having courage—and when Elmo’s courage falters as the power goes out, his dad steps in to help with words of encouragement and an exercise to help calm him down.
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