Hurricane Ike: Responding to the Special Needs of Children News Update Oct. 19, 2008, WESTPORT, Conn. — One month after Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston and parts of the Texas coast, Save the Children continues to respond to the needs of children. The agency dispatched an emergency response team to San Antonio, Texas on Sept.10, even before Hurricane Ike hit, to set up operations. The storm slammed onto land in Galveston, Texas early in the morning on Sept. 13 with 110 mph winds, and then barreled through Houston, the fourth largest U.S. city. Read an Oct.14 Editorial "What about the Children?" in the Washington Post. Our Response Save the Children REDI teams provided assistance to more than 8,000 displaced children and family members in shelters in San Antonio, Austin and Houston. Read a Newsweek interview with Save the Children staff at the shelters. REDI team members included staff experts who have responded previously to the needs of children affected by Hurricane Gustav  and every major U.S. disaster affecting significant numbers of children since Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. Often the needs of children are forgotten during an emergency, which was highlighted during the recent evacuations.   Hurricane Ike evacuees Christopher and Magaly,ages 4 and 7, open relief kits provided by Save the Children at an emergency shelter in San Antonio, Texas. Sept.13, 2008. Photo by Alicia Wagner Calzada Since Sept. 12, the agency has distributed 500 portable cribs, as well as 50,000 diapers and baby wipes, all  donated by Toys“R”Us, Inc. to provide safe, comfortable sleep and play environments for infants and toddlers in need. Save the Children received an additional 50,000 diapers from Toys"R"Us, along with well as additional baby wash tubs, wash cloths and other materials to maintain proper hygiene. From Scholastic, the agency also has received 3,240 ”My Time” activity kits and 1,000 children's books. The activity kits contain books and crayons for children ages 5-12, and resources to help families cope with trauma and relocation. With support from the American Red Cross, Save the Children has established its signature program, Safe Spaces, for children in Texas shelters. Safe Spaces make it possible to establish a sense of normalcy, even in the midst of a crowded emergency shelter, by offering children and families a supervised area filled with toys, art supplies, books and games. 39 Safe Spaces Kits have been distributed to shelters. Learn more about Safe Spaces. Save the Children is also working with child care networks throughout Texas. Once families can go back to their homes, the agency plans to help child care centers quickly re-establish services and schools to rebound so students do not fall behind in their education. Key Facts Save the Children is working with 200 school districts in Galveston and Houston to provide child care restoration. Galveston and Houston remain in a state of grief with 36 dead because of the hurricane, and 134 still missing, acccording to official estimates. At a press conference in Galveston on Oct. 13, officials from the city, federal government and a utility company reported that the recovery is really just beginning. In Houston, hundreds are still sheltered in American Red Cross facilities. Almost 688,000 households in 29 counties have applied for state or federal assistance, according to the Houston Chronicle. How You Can Help   Donate to the Hurricane Ike Children in Crisis Fund Save the Children is responding to the immediate and long-term needs of children in Texas by helping them prepare for and recover from Hurricane Ike. Your donation will help us provide emergency supplies, such as diapers, wipes and portable cribs and help us set up the agency's signature Safe Spaces program to ensure the safety and well-being of children who have been evacuated to shelters. Donate to the U.S. Emergencies Fund You can help Save the Children make a difference in the lives of children affected by disasters in the United States. By contributing to the U.S. Emergencies Fund, you enable us to serve children through disaster planning, preparedness, response and recovery work. With your help, Save the Children has responded to the needs of children impacted by the massive evacuation of families from the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, the recent flooding in the Midwest, the wildfires in California as well as our ongoing work in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. How to Talk to Your Kids about Disasters: 10 Tips