Our Recent Tornado Relief Responses
With your help, Save the Children works to help children and their communities adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis, including tornadoes. Our experts provide tornado safety tips to keep kids and families safe before, during and after an emergency. Learn more about our tornado relief work and our history of responding to tornadoes across the U.S.
Mississippi
After deadly tornadoes swept through rural Mississippi on March 24, 2023, knocking out power to thousands and leaving more than 100 miles of destruction in their wake, Save the Children mobilized emergency response staff and supplies to help children and families in areas hardest hit by the powerful storms.
In coordination with state and local partners, Save the Children delivered essential, child-focused items to kids and families who need them most in western Mississippi.
Mayfield, Kentucky
In December 2021, following a deadly tornado that caused catastrophic damage to Mayfield, Kentucky, Save the Children mobilized to provide critical emergency supplies to help children and families impacted by the destructive storm.
Save the Children has been working in Kentucky's rural communities since 1932, providing support to the most isolated and under-resourced children living in poverty.
West Virginia
In June 2016, torrential storms dropped nearly 10 inches of rain across much of West Virginia, triggering unprecedented flash floods and sparking at least two tornadoes across the state. At least 23 people were killed and hundreds more were stranded.
When the flooding broke out, our expert staff in West Virginia sprung into action. We provided immediate support to children and families – distributing infant care supplies like blankets, cribs and diapers, plus cookware, dishes and hygiene items to families who had lost everything.
Oklahoma
In May 2013, a series of tornadoes tore through central Oklahoma, severely impacting the lives of tens of thousands of people. Save the Children set up child-friendly spaces for children to safely play and learn – so they can be kids again. We also offered our Journey of Hope emotional recovery program to help children and their caregivers cope with the trauma of crisis and build resilience to future crises.
Save the Children also helped lead the creation of a task force with federal, state and local partners in Oklahoma to address children’s needs through summer programs and when school resumes.
With the help of our generous supporters, we reached more than 18,500 people, more than half of them children – with immediate relief and long-term recovery services.
Your donation to the Children's Emergency Fund helps our work in the U.S. to support children and their communities prevent, prepare for and recover from deadly tornadoes and other climate-induced disasters.
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