Torrential storms dumped up to 20 inches of rain over southern Louisiana between August 11 and 13, creating once-in-a-lifetime flash floods that damaged an estimated 40,000 homes. The damage has been estimated at $30 billion, making the floods the nation's worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. We are meeting the critical needs of flood-affected children and families in evacuation centers in Louisiana.
Torrential storms dumped up to 20 inches of rain over southern Louisiana between August 11 and 13, creating once-in-a-lifetime flash floods that damaged an estimated 40,000 homes. The damage has been estimated at $30 billion, making the floods the nation's worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Children are always among the most vulnerable in any emergency. We estimate that 10,000 girls and boys have been affected.
We are meeting the critical needs of flood-affected children and families in evacuation centers in Louisiana. Our immediate focus also includes addressing children's protection and providing them with access to psychosocial support to help alleviate the great stress and uncertainty around the crisis.
We have opened four child-friendly spaces at three different evacuation centers in Baton Rouge, where children have been idle and without any access to safe play areas. Our spaces are providing children with access to structured play and other activities, as well as psychosocial support, under the direction of trained facilitators.
