This story was produced by The 19th and reprinted with permission.
Hurricane Helene struck Black Mountain, North Carolina, two years ago, uprooting a tree onto Kelsey Crabtree’s home. Water poured in through a cracked roof, forcing Crabtree, her husband, and their two sons to seek shelter in their laundry room. The family later relocated to Chattanooga, Tennessee, staying in an Airbnb for almost a year while managing repairs and childcare for their two young boys.
Crabtree, a therapist, struggled with limited childcare options which affected her ability to work. “The limited child care was really making it challenging. It was limiting my ability to see clients,” she said. She reached out to Silke Knebel, who had established the National Emergency Child Care Network to support mothers needing childcare during emergencies.
In the past decade, weather and climate disasters have caused over $200 billion in damage, severely impacting childcare availability. For instance, Hurricane Harvey in 2017 damaged 650 childcare centers, permanently closing 52. The 2023 Maui wildfire destroyed four of Lahaina’s nine childcare programs. The 2022 Los Angeles wildfires shut down over 500 childcare providers, with Altadena losing 60% of its centers.
Knebel’s organization deploys trained volunteers to families in crisis at no cost, providing essential support. The volunteers, often retired teachers and social workers, are trained in trauma-informed care. This initiative fills a crucial gap, helping families like Crabtree’s manage post-disaster recovery while ensuring their children’s safety and well-being.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Knebel’s network assisted over 50 families. One mother struggled with a sick spouse and had to find water and care for her children. Another mother, worried about rent and unable to work, was left without child care due to the storm. The program has proven invaluable, offering relief to families burdened by the chaos of natural disasters.
The first call to Knebel’s hotline came from a local bank manager seeking help for an employee struggling to find child care weeks after the storm. Employers, despite their compassion, often require employees to resume work, increasing stress for families when childcare centers remain closed.
Knebel’s network also supported United Way of Asheville and local schools, providing pop-up childcare to help employees and teachers manage their own children’s needs. Meanwhile, 148 childcare centers were damaged by Helene, with many uncertain about reopening. Susan Butler-Staub from Child Care Aware of America notes that finding suitable temporary environments post-disaster is a significant hurdle.
Recovery is costly and challenging, with facilities dealing with mold and water quality issues. Even when centers reopen, the cost is often prohibitive for families. Crabtree, who relied on volunteer help, could only afford childcare with financial support from her extended family.
Knebel’s organization also responded to the Los Angeles wildfires, recruiting volunteers to assist families like Briana Pozner’s, who faced lead contamination and displacement after the fires. The organization plans to expand to other disaster-prone states but needs more funding. Calls from across the country highlight the broad need for emergency childcare, spanning various crises, from domestic violence to medical emergencies.
Knebel acknowledges the ongoing need for her services beyond natural disasters, including school shootings and medical crises. She continues to explore ways to support families, including those affected by ICE raids and severe weather events.
—
Read More Kitchen Table News
