Overview of Comfort Bears in Catastrophe - Comfort Bears in Catastrophe is a nonprofit organization distributing stuffed animals to young people experiencing disasters [5] - The organization was founded in 2020 by a survivor of Hurricane Katrina [4] - The founder was inspired by her own childhood experience of losing her teddy bear during the hurricane [1][2] Impact and Reach - Comfort Bears in Catastrophe has distributed over 65,000 stuffed animals [6] - The organization provides comfort to children impacted by various disasters, including home fires, Hurricane Ian, floods in Kurville, Texas, and LA wildfires [6][7][8] - The stuffed animals provide a tangible item for children to hold on to, helping them cope with the trauma and providing a sense of normalcy [7] Psychological Impact of Disasters on Children - Research indicates that up to 50% of children experience post-traumatic stress symptoms after a disaster [3] - Stuffed animals can provide comfort to children during these traumatic events [4]