Elmo answers young New Yorkers’ questions about superstorm

Radio listeners in the New York area got poststorm analysis from an unexpected source Tuesday morning—Elmo.

The "Brian Lehrer Show" on WNYC had on the "Sesame Street" star (ID'ed on its guest list as "Elmo, resident of Sesame Street") to discuss the storm for younger listeners.

"Sesame Street" had previously done an episode about dealing with hurricanes, which predated Katrina. In that episode, Elmo went shopping with his parents for, as he recounted to Lehrer, "water and some peanut butter and tuna fish and stuff like that."

Big Bird's nest was ruined in that storm, and Sesame Street residents rallied around to help rebuild.

Rosemarie Truglio, who appeared on the "Brian Lehrer Show" with Elmo on Tuesday, said allowing children to help in relief efforts in age-appropriate ways can ease stress. "Whenever you can empower children, it helps them as well," Truglio said.

Elmo confessed to being scared during Sandy, even though he was with his mommy and daddy. Elmo's big question? "Will the wind ever stop blowing?"

WNYC's own Twitter feed called the segment "cute overload." You can listen to the segment at WNYC or below: