NEA launches Hurricane Florence disaster fund

WASHINGTON - Devastating, widespread flooding from Hurricane Florence has swamped huge swaths of North and South Carolina and has left at least 17 people dead as waters continue to rise. About 15,000 people were in shelters across North Carolina by Sunday afternoon, many of which are staffed by the educators who work there.

The following is a statement from NEA President Lily Eskelsen García.

"As all of us know, Hurricane Florence has ravaged communities in the Carolinas and Virginia, leaving many residents with nothing. The huge, slow-moving tropical storm has been blamed for several deaths. The hurricane-force winds have passed, but catastrophic flooding, widespread power outages, and overall disruption are continuing. They are compounding the hardship and losses.

In the spirit of solidarity and compassion, NEA is asking its members and the public, as we did last year after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, to help educators and schools affected by Hurricane Florence.

Visit NEA's Hurricane Resources & Relief page to contribute to our disaster-relief fund.

Meteorologists calculate that Florence will ultimately dump 18 trillion gallons of rain in the South and Mid-Atlantic. That is enough to cover the state of Texas with nearly four inches of water.

The road to recovery will be long. NEA members and their communities will need our ongoing contributions to make it through this difficult and emotionally draining time. They need to know we are with them, that we share their sorrow and empathize with their losses. Our compassion and generous donations will help restore their hope that tomorrow will be better.

For educators seeking information for talking with students about hurricanes and assist them with any trauma they may be experiencing, check out the additional resources on the Hurricane Resources and Relief page.

Let’s continue to keep all affected families and communities in our thoughts and prayers, long after Hurricane Florence leaves the national news. Together, we can play a role in helping our members find the strength to get through this."