Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina have recently been devastated by two hurricanes. Hurricane Helene and then Hurricane Milton have killed and injured many people. Others have lost their homes. It will take many years to recover. Let’s look at how governments help people during hurricanes.
The first way governments help people is before a hurricane reaches land. Hurricanes form in the warm water. They often come from the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, or Caribbean Sea. As a storm forms, a federal agency tracks it. The agency is called the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NAOAA). The NAOAA monitors how strong the storm is. They look at its path. They predict where it will reach land. It provides this information to communities within a hurricane’s path. Leaders in those communities can order people to evacuate [leave an area for safety reasons]. Local leaders can also provide assistance to people in the hurricane’s path.
After a hurricane, state, local, and federal governments work together. The governor of a state may declare an area that has been hit by a hurricane a “disaster area.” Then, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supports state and local governments. They help in search and rescue missions. They provide supplies, as well as food and water. They also provide temporary housing for people who have lost their homes. Over the long term, they provide money to help people rebuild their homes after disasters.
What Can You Do? Ask an adult what they will do to help. Some people give money. Some people give supplies.
Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate Airman Jeremy L. Grisham
