Save the Children ready to help children and families threatened by hurricane
TORONTO (August 31, 2019) — Hundreds of thousands of children, their families and homes could be in danger in Florida, as Hurricane Dorian strengthens and churns towards the southeast of the United States. Save the Children has staff ready to support children and families bracing for the treacherous storm.
The hurricane is scheduled to make a devastating landfall in Florida early next week with winds of up to 140 mph, bringing with it life-threatening winds, heavy rains and flash floods. It could be the worst storm to hit Florida’s since Hurricane Andrew destroyed 63,000 homes in 1992.
Jeanne-Aimee De Marrais, Save the Children’s senior director for U.S. Emergencies:
“Children are always among the most vulnerable when disaster strikes. Disasters like this can steal children’s sense of security. When adults are stressed, children feel it even more. Our thoughts go out to the children and families along Florida’s east coast and within the pathway of this dangerous storm. Save the Children will be there to help them recover.”
Further to the staff already in Florida, Save the Children is sending members of its emergency response team to the southeast of the country and pre-positioning essential child-focused supplies such as hygiene kits, portable cribs, washbasins, diapers and baby wipes. After Hurricane Dorian has made landfall, the organization will assess children’s immediate needs, in close coordination with national and state partners.
ENDS
Note to Editors:
– Save the Children responded to Hurricanes Michael (2018) and Irma (2017), helping children and families recover from these catastrophic storms.
– It set up child friendly spaces in evacuation shelters in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, where kids could be kids again, express themselves and begin to recover.
– In addition, Save the Children coordinated emergency distributions of essential child-centric materials for the most impacted families, and continues to play a leading role in getting children back to learning and returning to normalcy.
Media Contact
For additional information please contact Jessica Bryant, Head of Communications, Media and PR:
About Save the Children
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In Canada and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.