(NewsNation) — Hurricane Helene‘s violent sweep across America’s Southeast killed hundreds, knocked out power and indefinitely paused schooling for affected children.
Washed-away homes, waterlogged schools and witnessed trauma across the region could have a long-lasting impact on the emotional and educational development of the youngest victims of Helene, according to youth development experts.
A 2020 research paper pointed out that “natural disaster(s) present a significant and growing threat to the well-being of children,” citing a kid’s increased vulnerability to the exposure of tragedies like Helene.
That same research found that children who have experienced a disaster are more likely to have physical health problems, mental health symptoms, trouble learning and high rates of absenteeism.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the deadliest in U.S. history, an estimated 50,000 students didn’t return to school for the entirety of the school year, The New York Times reported.
Something similar could happen in the hardest-hit areas of Helene’s path, like Asheville, North Carolina, a mountain city that found itself isolated from the world for days after floodwaters destroyed all paths in and out.
The waterlogged western half of North Carolina could see massive disruptions in returns to the classrooms, Cassandra R. Davis, an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, told the Times.
And, when school restarts, many students won’t show up — both mentally and physically.
“Even when things may appear to be back to normal, they’re really not,” Davis said. “Even if cars are on the road and the Waffle House is open, the storm is still heavily within that student.”
NewsNation local affiliate WNCN reports that the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management has outlined funding requests to the tune of a $250 million “Hurricane Helene Fund.”
Among its requests are some aimed at rebuilding the state’s education system:
- $150 million for school building, equipment and technology losses
- $21.1 million in additional child care stabilization grants
- $16 million for school nutrition staff so they continue to be paid despite schools being closed
OSBM said a damage and needs assessment is still underway. The earliest draft of that report is not expected until late October, while the earliest full draft is not expected until mid-November.