When a hurricane, flood, or power outage strikes, families with infants and toddlers face urgent and unique risks. Clean water may be unavailable. Power outages may render breast pumps, refrigerators, and sterilizing equipment useless. Emergency shelters, though well-intentioned, may not have appropriate food, sanitation supplies, or safe spaces for feeding very young children.
That’s why the SAFE Infant Feeding Team is working across North Carolina to make sure no parent is left without options when the lights go out and the water runs dry.
In a recent interview with WECT News, Norma Escobar—our team’s coordinator and a long-time lactation leader—shared how simple, low-cost SAFE Sanitation Kits are helping save lives.
“When sanitation, electricity, clean water, and medical care are disrupted—even for just a few days—it doesn’t take long for infants and toddlers to get seriously ill,” said Escobar. “We’ve seen it happen across the state.”
The SAFE Infant Feeding Kit includes practical items that help families safely clean feeding tools like bottles, cups, spoons, and syringes in an emergency. Inside each kit are:
- Bleach (to create safe cleaning solutions)
- Dish detergent
- A scrub brush
- Mini measuring cups
- A feeding syringe
“We went through many versions of the box before landing on this one,” Escobar explained. “We took feedback from families, relief workers, and healthcare providers. When you’re handing out hundreds of kits per week, they need to be cost-effective and usable in real-world emergencies.”
These kits were a lifeline during the response to Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina—where the SAFE Team deployed for 8 weeks, meeting families sheltering without power, clean water, or formula supplies.
Unfortunately, these disasters aren’t rare anymore. They’re becoming routine. Fires, storms, and floods are increasing in frequency, and families with infants are among the most vulnerable.
Even emergency shelters may fall short.
“The food in shelters might be fine for adults,” said Escobar, “but it may not be safe or developmentally appropriate for a young child. And if I don’t have the things I need to safely prepare formula or breastfeed, I’m putting my baby at risk.”
That’s why we’re encouraging every parent, grandparent, or caregiver of infants and toddlers to make or request a SAFE Infant Feeding Kit today.
Disasters will come. Preparedness can save lives.