Hurricane Beryl: How to Help
Hurricane Beryl, the second named storm of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season, strengthened to an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm on Monday, July 1, 2024. Venezuela suffered flooding in various coastal states due to the passing of Hurricane Beryl. The storm also pounded Jamaica with a devastating combination of "life-threatening storm surge" and destructive winds.
On Monday, July 8, Hurricane Beryl landed on the Texas Gulf Coast as a Category 1 hurricane and has left a trail of destruction in its wake.
As the climate crisis intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events and coastal areas become more populated, millions of children in storm-prone areas face increased risks like floods, landslides, damage to homes and schools, heightened exposure to disease, and even death.
Through the Children's Emergency Fund, Save the Children is responding in Venezuela and in the U.S., helping communities rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl. In the U.S., we already know that childcare centers have been impacted and will need help to keep their doors open. We're providing financial assistance to childcare and early learning centers so they can recover and reopen as quickly as possible.
In Venezuela, we're distributing food, clean water and essential items to meet families’ urgent needs as well as setting up temporary child-friendly spaces to keep kids safe. Your donation to the Children’s Emergency Funds supports those impacted by Hurricane Beryl and in other crises impacting children around the world.
10 Hurricane Safety Tips
Save the Children’s emergency response experts have compiled ways to stay safe during a hurricane to help protect your children from distress during and after disasters.
- Talk to your children about hurricanes. Explain to your child what could happen in the event of a hurricane, using simple, age-appropriate words. Outline a family emergency plan for hurricanes, with an evacuation plan and meeting location and emphasize that their safety is your utmost priority.
- Prepare a “to-go bag” for each child in the family ahead of time. The bag should contain essential personal items, including:
Contact and medical information
A flashlight with extra batteries
A favorite stuffed animal or comfort item
A blanket
Hygiene supplies including a toothbrush, comb and washcloth
Hand sanitizer, or bar or liquid soap
Two cloth face coverings for each child above the age of two
- Practice evacuation drills. Once you’ve created your hurricane evacuation plan and talked with your children about it, it’s time to practice. Be sure to run through different scenarios – at home, at school and at other places you visit often (like a grandparent’s house, or a second home). When planning your evacuation route, remember that bridges may be washed out and low-lying areas may be flooded.
- Learn your child’s school or child care disaster plans. If your child attends school, daycare or an after-school program, ask for the facility’s hurricane emergency plan. Learn their procedures for evacuation, notifying parents and if there is an alternate pick up location.
- Evacuate if instructed to do so. If you are instructed to evacuate by local authorities – or if you feel unsafe – you should follow CDC recommendations for how to stay safe and healthy in a public setting or shelter.
- Stay indoors, if not evacuated. If you aren’t advised to evacuate, or are unable to do so safely, stay indoors, away from windows, skylights and doors. Continue to monitor weather reports and don’t go outside until the storm has passed. Downed trees, live electrical wires and other hazards can crop up unexpectedly.
- Keep routines. Children experience comfort from rituals and routines, like a story before bedtime or a family meal each evening. If at all possible, keep these routines.
- Role model and listen. Remember, children look to you and pick up on your moods and cues. Let your children know that it’s okay to be sad, but do your best to reassure them that they’re safe.
Although the dangers of a hurricane are very real, your child’s fears may be out of proportion or unrealistic. Take the time to talk to them and hear their concerns.
- Limit media. Even the mildest of storms can be sensationalized on news and weather channels. Children of all ages can be disturbed by intense images online and on TV, so monitor their media intake.
- Watch your child for changes in behavior, sleeping patterns, or eating habits. Children may be afraid or anxious for a while after the hurricane. If changes in behavior do happen, they will likely lessen within a short time. However, if they continue, you should seek professional help and counseling
Hurricanes, Cyclones and Typhoons: What's the Difference?
Hurricanes, tropical cyclones and typhoons are all destructive windstorms but are called different things based on their geographic location.
The term ‘hurricane’ is used in the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific oceans. In the Northwest Pacific Ocean, we use the term ‘typhoons,’ while the term ‘tropical cyclone’ refers to the South Pacific and Indian oceans.
![Hurricane Laura caused massive damage to communities in the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Laura caused massive damage to communities in the Gulf Coast.](https://image.savethechildren.org/united-states-hurricane-laura-ch1476162-sq.jpg-ch11041196.jpg/dw154rd1h7ehl40gx17iuf4ctk8k8sti.jpg?g=auto&w=768&format=webp&itok=Tfe95oGg)
Hurricanes can cause widespread damage and impact communities for years to come.
2024 Hurricane Names
Hurricane Alberto | Hurricane Leslie |
*New storm name, due to retired name.
What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning?
- A hurricane watch indicates there’s a threat of hurricane or tropical storm conditions within 48 hours.
- A hurricane warning means a hurricane or tropical storm is expected within 36 hours or less.
- A tropical storm or hurricane statement is issued every 2-3 hours by your local National Weather Service (NWS) office. It will summarize all of the watches and warnings, evacuation info and most immediate threats to the area.
When crisis strikes, children are always among the most vulnerable. That’s why Save the Children has been on the ground, protecting America’s children, in every major disaster since Hurricane Katrina.
Thanks to the support of our donors, our response teams and supplies hit the road before disaster strikes, to help keep children and families safe. We get parents the essential items they need to continue to care for their children, make sure evacuation shelters are safe and supportive to children and families’ unique needs.
We’re also there for the long term, restoring child care centers and preschools – and restarting afterschool and summer programs – so kids can get back to learning and parents can get back to work. Plus, our social and emotional recovery programs, including. Journey of Hope and. HEART (Healing and Education Through the Arts), help children and caregivers understand and cope with the fear and loss that can come in the wake of a disaster.
How to Help
Together, we’re can ensure no child is left behind in an emergency, reaching the most vulnerable whenever and wherever they need us.
Through our Children’s Emergency Fund we can prepare better, respond faster, and protect longer, so that we’re there to help children when they need it most. Your donation today supports this life-saving work.