Hurricane Sandy has devastated the East Coast of the United States, forcing thousands from their homes and leaving even more without power for days. Save the Children is creating Child Friendly Spaces in Hurricane evacuation shelters, and is distributing the materials that families need to keep their youngest children healthy. The hurricane's damage and its impact on children and families is likely to be so severe that Save the Children has declared a $1 million goal to help families recover.
Hurricane Sandy's landfall along the East Coast left millions without power, caused widespread flooding, and killed dozens of people. New Jersey and New York bore the brunt of this brutal storm that has displaced thousands from their homes to shelters and left millions without power. The storm is estimating to have caused nearly $20 billion in damage across many states. Children are particularly vulnerable to a range of risks like separation from family, physical harm and emotional distress.
Save the Children has emergency response and recovery experts in New Jersey and New York working help children and families. This means restoring access to child care, helping children process and express the fears, emotions and stresses experienced during a disaster. We also create "Child Friendly Spaces" to give kids the opportunity to play, sing, and socialize with their peers and to regain a sense of normalcy.
Child-focused disaster-relief is crucial; children are particularly at risk during emergencies, so we engage with families, communities, donors and governments to ensure that the most vulnerable children do not get forgotten in the chaos. We plan to quickly respond to children and families right now, as they deal with the immediate aftermath of the storm; and we will continue to serve these families over the coming weeks and months as they begin the road to recovery.
