The U.S. Should Have a Plan to Help Children in a Disaster

Children are the most vulnerable victims in a disaster, as we saw five years ago when Hurricane Katrina struck the coast. 

For days and weeks, children affected by Katrina didn't get food, safe shelter, critically needed pediatric medical care or trauma counseling. For weeks or months, children were out of school, putting their education on hold. Our children deserve better than that. 

We owe it to our children to make sure we do a better job of protecting them in the wake of the next disaster.

From pediatric care, nutrition and counseling to child-friendly shelters and temporary schools, protecting children during emergencies requires that nonprofits, businesses, and federal, state and local governments work together.

Floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, public health disasters and other emergencies often have their deepest and longest‑lasting impact on children. That’s why the National Commission on Children and Disasters was created -- to ensure that children are never just an afterthought in a disaster. Now, it's time Congress act on the recommendations of the Commission, so we're ready to protect the littlest victims of disaster on our soil.

Urge Congress to enact a national strategy for addressing the needs of children after catastrophic events by adopting the recommendations of the National Commission on Children and Disasters.

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