CT-based agencies help Florence victims

Two agencies based in Fairfield County are on the ground in North Carolina helping the victims of Florence.
Stamford-based group Americares and Fairfield-based group Save the Children both have several teams in North Carolina. Both agencies are used to responding to hurricanes but say Florence is different because it is an ongoing disaster.
Tom Cotter with Americares says flooding is still forcing people from their homes days after the storm swept through, making some areas inaccessible.
Americares has been working with medical clinics, shelters and hospitals to make sure they have medicine and medical supplies, fuel for generators and hygiene items. Monday, the group hired a pilot to fly those necessary supplies to Wilmington since flooding there has cut the city off from outside help.
Cotter says Americares will be helping hospitals and clinics for several weeks while in response mode, then they will transition to recovery mode.
Save the Children also flew a team into Wilmington to address the needs of families and children.
"That includes delivering essential child supplies like cribs, baby wipes, diapers and hygiene kits," says Sarah Thompson. "We're setting up child friendly stations in shelters where kids can play, learn and cope and really just be a kid and get a sense of normalcy during the disaster."
Both agencies say they are committed to being there throughout the prolonged emergency.