Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton declared natural disasters somewhere in the United States on average of about one per week between 1998 and 2005. Despite this frequency, most citizens are unprepared when a natural disaster occurs in their city or neighborhood. In particular, teachers and students can become paralyzed by the overwhelming destruction and emotional trauma brought on by these disasters. This article aims to assist teachers in addressing the multiple levels and forms of student trauma that may result from natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana or tornadoes in Kansas; in particular, the effects of the wildfires in California during the fall of 2007. Evaluations of the challenges and responses of schools, accompanied by suggestions for activities that can encourage community service and critical thinking by students, are the focus of this article. (Contains 16 notes.)