Scientifically-literate and Compassionate Citizens

Living in inland Georgia, we typically do not experience too many natural disasters. When we do, it is generally hurricanes and more often flooding. In September 2009, the metro Atlanta area experienced significant flooding that led to deaths by drowning.
The students I teach would benefit from learning how to read and understand weather web sites, including doppler radar and knowing the difference between weather watches and warnings. I would like to expose them to the power that weather has, but at the same time I understand that some children already have significant fear of bad weather. To what degree would it be important to show them the serious affects that hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, earthquakes,and the like have on the environment - including people? I am not sure. But I do think that it is important for them to know the science behind how they form and how unpredictable they can be.
Practically, I think students would benefit form learning how to swim and more importantly, learning water safety and water rescue. I doubt that most of my students have been in the water fully clothed. That in itself is difficult to deal with, yet that is the position my students could find themselves in during a flash flood situation. I also think students need to be aware of how to prepare and operate in conditions where they have no electricity for several days. When students have an understanding of these things, I am certain that the majority of them will want to teach and help others in the same way.
In the community, students could raise money or find volunteers to support free swimming clinics for our community. They could also work together with our local hospital or firemen to put together basic flood safety emergency kits, that can be given away at booths during our community events. I think the students would enjoy sharing the importance of what they have learned and feel successful that they have become part of the solution to making our community better equipped for flooding.