Save the Children Deploys Emergency Response Team, Stands Ready to Help Kids and Families Threatened by Powerful Hurricane Michael

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (October 10, 2018) — As Hurricane Michael intensifies, bringing life-threatening winds and heavy rains towards the Florida Panhandle, Save the Children has deployed an emergency response team prepared to help children and families bracing for the powerful storm.

Save the Children is also pre-positioning essential, child-focused emergency supplies and communicating with national and state partners to assess children’s immediate needs in response to Hurricane Michael.

“Children are always among the most vulnerable when disaster strikes, and our thoughts and hearts go out to children and families along the Florida Panhandle,” said Sarah Thompson, Save the Children’s director for U.S. emergencies. “With 22 counties under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, we hope people are able to safely return to their homes soon. But while children and families are displaced during this crisis, Save the Children will be there to help them recover.”

As the national leader for children in emergencies, Save the Children deployed an emergency response team to Florida last year in response to Hurricane Irma, and remains on-the-ground in the Sunshine State, committed to restoring early learning programs and helping children heal emotionally from the distress of the catastrophic storm. In the direct aftermath of Hurricane Irma, Save the Children set up child friendly spaces in evacuation shelters and coordinated emergency distributions of child-centric materials – and continues to play a leading role in getting children back to learning and returning to normalcy.

To learn more about Save the Children, please go to www.SavetheChildren.org.

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we’ve changed the lives of more than 1 billion children. In the United States 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. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.