CNN PRODUCER NOTE     iReporter wturbiasz set up this weather station in his backyard in Wynantskill, New York, because of concern his two children would be frightened by Hurricane Sandy as it bears down on the U.S. east coast. "Kids tend to hear the term 'storm' and naturally start to worry and assume the worst," he said. "The idea behind building a quick, 'homebrew' weather station was inspired by me as a way to get the kids to calm down and teach them that weather is something that can be monitored." His children helped to build the station, which has a simple rain gauge and rain collector, along with a video camera that can record the hurricane. "They are now less focused on the storm and more excited about the weather station," he said. Check out more images and videos on our Hurricane Sandy Open Story.
- sarahbrowngb, CNN iReport producer