Presented by the Florida Department of Community Affairs Division of Emergency Management

The Adventures ofRabbit, Possum, and Squirrel

in

The 30/30 RuleThe 30/30 Rule

The Adventures ofRabbit, Possum, and Squirrel

in

Written and Produced by

An Integrity Arts and Technology Companywww.integrityarts.com

Illustrated by

Tom LaBaff

This book is a joint project of The Florida Department of Community Affairs,

Division of Emergency Management and The Florida Department of Education.

© 2004, State of Florida. All rights reserved.

Community Affairs

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF

��

It was a hotand sunny day.

Three furry friends went out to play.

It was a hotand sunny day.

Three furry friends went out to play.

�2

Up in the skythe clouds were forming.

The radio saidit might soon be storming!

Up in the skythe clouds were forming.

The radio saidit might soon be storming!

�3

“Oh, no!” said Squirrel.“There might be lightning.

I’m going inside.This is just too frightening.”

“Oh, no!” said Squirrel.“There might be lightning.

I’m going inside.This is just too frightening.”

�4

But Rabbit rememberedwhat he learned

in school...about the 30/30 Rule.

��

The 30/30 Rule

Go inside if you hearthunder within30 seconds of a lightning flash.

Wait at least30 minutes after you hear thunder beforegoing back outside.

The 30/30 Rule

Go inside if you hearthunder within30 seconds of a lightning flash.

Wait at least30 minutes after you hear thunder beforegoing back outside.

��

Rabbit just kepta watchful eye

for big dark cloudsup in the sky.

Rabbit just kepta watchful eye

for big dark cloudsup in the sky.

��

And Possum thought,I should do something.

But he sat in his hammockand just did nothing!

And Possum thought,I should do something.

But he sat in his hammockand just did nothing!

��

“Squirrel, please comeback out and play.

There is no lightningyet today!”

“Squirrel, please comeback out and play.

There is no lightningyet today!”

��

But Squirrel was hidingunder the bed.

“I’m too scared!”is all he said.

10�0

Later the cloudsstarted getting dark,and Rabbit saw the

lightning spark!

11��

“OneTallahassee,

Two Tallahassee,Three Tallahassee,

Four...”

Then Rabbit heard the thunder roar.

“OneTallahassee,

Two Tallahassee,Three Tallahassee,

Four...”

Then Rabbit heard the thunder roar.

12�2

“Hurry Possum,I only got to four.

Let’s go insideand close the door!”

“Hurry Possum,I only got to four.

Let’s go insideand close the door!”

13�3

And Possum thought,I should do something.

But he sat in his hammockand just did nothing!

And Possum thought,I should do something.

But he sat in his hammockand just did nothing!

14�4

Then the windbegan to blow.

Big, dark cloudsbegan to grow.

15��

Thunder woke Possumwith a great big jolt.Then he saw another

lightning bolt.

Thunder woke Possumwith a great big jolt.Then he saw another

lightning bolt.

16��

“Squirrel, come out.It’s just rain falling.”But he did not hear

Rabbit calling.

“Squirrel, come out.It’s just rain falling.”But he did not hear

Rabbit calling.

17��

It rainedand rained

and rained some more.It really was

a big downpour!

It rainedand rained

and rained some more.It really was

a big downpour!

18��

“Let’s watch the rainfall on the ground.

Away from the window,we’re safe and sound!”

19��

“From the phone and the tubwe’ll stay away,and we’ll be safe

on this rainy day.”

2020

The rain soon stopped,but not the thinder.

“Is it safe to go outside,I wonder?”

The rain soon stopped,but not the thunder.

“Is it safe to go outside,I wonder?”

212�

“When the thunder stopsyou have to wait

for thirty minutes,just to be safe!”

The rain soon stopped,but not the thinder.

“Is it safe to go outside,I wonder?”

2222

And then the thunderwas no more...

And when the thunderwas no more...

2323

...after thirty minutes,they opened the door.

Even Squirrel came out at last. “Let’s go outside.

The storm has passed.”

...after thirty minutes,they opened the door.

Even Squirrel came out at last. “Let’s go outside.

The storm has passed.”

2424

“Oh, Possum, look!Your hammock is soaked.

And your umbrella...why, it is smoked!”

“Oh, Possum, look!Your hammock is soaked.

And your umbrella...why, it is smoked!”

252�

Just then, the radio did say,

“Another chance of storms today.”

Just then, the radio did say,

“Another chance of storms today.”

262�

“Oh no!” cried Squirrelas he ran inside.

Back under the bedhe went to hide.

“Oh no!” cried Squirrelas he ran inside.

Back under the bedhe went to hide.

272�

Possum stayed andcleaned up his stuff.

Boy, he thought,life is tough.

Possum stayed andcleaned up his stuff.

Boy, he thought,life is tough.

282�

But Rabbit knewthe 30/30 Rule.

He had done whathe learned in school.

But Rabbit knewthe 30/30 Rule.

He had done whathe learned in school.

292�

And because Rabbit knewto do the right thing,

it was now his turnto just do nothing.

And because Rabbit knewto do the right thing,

it was now his turnto just do nothing.

The 30/30 Rule

Go insideif you hear

thunder within30 seconds of a lightning flash.

Wait at least30 minutes after you hear thunder beforegoing back outside.

ThE 30/30 RuLE

Go insideif you hear

thunder within30 seconds of a lightning flash.

Wait at least30 minutes after you hear thunder beforegoing back outside.

For more information about this book, contact:The Florida Division of Emergency Management

www.FloridaDisaster.org2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard

Tallahassee, Florida32399-2100

850.413.9900

It all starts with Story!

Prepare and Stay Aware!