Save the Children is responding urgently to the impacts of Winter Storm Fern, which left hundreds of thousands of families in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee without power amid freezing conditions. The nonprofit’s emergency response team and local staff are providing critical funding assistance to help families cover immediate needs, including food, water, heating supplies, and lost income caused by the storm. Priority support is focused on the Mississippi Delta, Sevier County in Arkansas, and Dyer County in Tennessee.
James Orlando, managing director of U.S. emergencies for Save the Children, emphasized that the most vulnerable children and families—often those already living on the edge—are disproportionately affected during disasters. The emergency aid aims to prevent families from being pushed further into crisis while ensuring children can maintain basic safety and wellbeing during extreme winter conditions.
In addition to direct family assistance, Save the Children is assessing damage to child-care centers in the affected states and partnering with local organizations to support recovery efforts. Restoring child-care operations quickly is critical, as reconnecting children with familiar routines and peers helps them cope with trauma and allows caregivers to return to work.
Save the Children has a long history of supporting U.S. communities affected by major disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, California wildfires, and flooding in Washington. The organization continues to lead early education and emergency response efforts, particularly in under-resourced rural areas, helping children recover and thrive in the aftermath of crises.
Contributions to the Children’s Emergency Fund enable Save the Children to provide rapid, life-saving support to children and families during disasters like Winter Storm Fern, ensuring both immediate relief and long-term recovery.
