Forgetting the children

Forgetting the children

Washington Post: The National Commission on Children and Disasters will finally held its first meeting Tuesday — nine months after Congress gave it statutory life and three years after Hurricane Katrina laid waste the Gulf Coast and exposed the stunning lack of forethought about or preparation for the evacuation, shelter and repatriation of children and their families. The experience of families during Hurricane Ike only highlighted the necessity of this effort.

The commission will have 16 months to develop regulatory and legislative recommendations for the president and Congress. These steps were taken for pets two years ago: In the wake of Katrina, federal authorities moved speedily to require disaster plans for states and localities to include plans for pets and service animals. They also made federal funds available to provide for the “rescue, care, shelter, and essential needs” of pets and their owners. Children and their families deserve the same consideration.

The first children’s commission meeting was scheduled to focus on a broad variety of issues, including long-term housing and mental health. Another issue to be examined is child care. The lack of it hurts working parents and plays a role in keeping them from returning home or getting back into the workforce.

The sooner the commission can get recommendations to Congress and those proposals become law, the sooner children will no longer be afterthoughts to the officials charged with providing for their safety.