5) How are different groups of people experiencing the effects of the hurricane differently?
One of the groups thats been affected the most has to be the young children in Western North Carolina, as an article from the Henching Report states that 55 early childhood development centers were damaged in the storms and 10 of them were forced to shut down. These early developmental programs for children are vital in the stages of socialization and learning for children. Prior to the Hurricane, Early childhood education in western North Carolina was in crisis before the storm, due to decades of underfunding by the state and a “funding cliff” when federal pandemic-related funds ran out in June. This lack of investment has translated to low wages and poor benefits, making it difficult to attract and retain qualified educators. A 2023 statewide study found that 39 percent of educators employed at centers left their jobs, and 1 in 5 planned to leave over the next three years.
According to Bradford Wiles, associate professor and extension specialist in early childhood development at Kansas State University’s College of Health and Human Sciences. “There’s a real perception that they’re babysitters,” Wiles said. In reality, high-quality early childhood education leads to significantly better outcomes for children, from better reading proficiency to higher graduation rates and higher-paying jobs. we should be focusing on making sure these programs are being funded in their efforts to rebuild after 6 months.” With the initial fund of $877 million dollars allotted to Western North Carolina, only $10 million was used for childhood centers, even though it was projected to take over $12 million to rebuild and run these organizations. In an email, state Rep. Eric Ager of Buncombe County wrote that “funding for childcare approved by the NC General Assembly to date is insufficient,” calling the issue one that lawmakers haven’t seemed to be able to resolve at the state level.
However, our efforts to rebuilding Western North Carolina have been in jeopardy with the talks from the new Administration and promotion of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), FEMA and Head Start (the federal preschool program for low-income families) is uncertain as both programs have become targets of the Trump administration. With these vital centers still under repair and many unable to help develop, teach, and raise our children, there is concern on how affected these under looked programs will handle themselves with the constant threat of being eliminated or having their budgets slashed. What the affects of this horrific natural disaster and future natural disasters will look in a world with less government relief and budget cuts to vital developmental programs like FEMA is a real concern to me, and I think needs to be discussed about more.
Websites Used:
https://hechingerreport.org/when-a-hurricane-washes-away-a-regions-child-care-system/