When Superstorm Sandy bore down hard on the Northeast and most people were frantically scavenging for supplies and worried about losing power at home, Waterford resident Cheryl Paganucci was packing a bag to hit the road, as she often does when tragedy threatens the safety of children.

As a specialist in data analysis and reporting for Save the Children USA, and a member of their volunteer ready-response team, her job is to bring a sense of normality to children in need wherever disaster strikes.

Save the Children has been protecting children at risk for more than 80 years.

With Sandy, Paganucci knew an early assessment team was on the ground in some of the worst hit areas evaluating the need for aid. When the call came, she said goodbye to her husband, Vic, picked up a rental van and headed to her assignment in New Jersey.

Driving down Interstate 95 toward New York City, she tried to anticipate the obstacles she would encounter. No stranger to such challenges in her six years with Save the Children, Paganucci has dealt with devastation from weather events in New Orleans and Shreveport, Louisiana, Galveston and San Antonio, Texas and encountered some of the worst destruction she's ever witnessed from tornadoes in Alabama.

She picked up other volunteers in New Haven and a load of emergency kits in Milford. They passed by Westport, where the main office for Save the Children USA is located close to the Saugatuck River.

The storm surge brought the river through the first floor of the building, causing staff to scramble to the upper floors to keep the relief effort operating. Leaving Connecticut behind, she headed into the wreckage of New Jersey, dropping off supplies to others on the way.

Arriving at her designated shelter in Toms River, Paganucci began setting up "child-friendly spaces," a concept developed by Save the Children and used worldwide to keep children safe from a number of potential dangers following weather events, war or other upheaval.

According to the organization's website, the dangers in some locales worldwide include the "very real threat of recruitment into armed forces, sexual exploitation and gender-based violence, physical harm and psychosocial distress." Save the Children's mission is to "create lasting, positive change in the lives of children in need, in the United States and around the world."

Child-friendly spaces are designated safety zones for kids where staff provide oversight, care and activities, creating a sense of normalcy for children.

Youngsters are cared for while their parents begin the lengthy process of putting shattered lives back together. Case workers trained in handling psychosocial issues provide for the children's emotional wellbeing throughout the event.

Agency staff also set up distribution systems to provide healthy foods to families and emergency supplies of children's clothing, blankets, soap, family hygiene kits, cribs and thousands of diapers.

Sometimes the distribution route can reach beyond American borders, sending donated goods to other countries, such as Haiti.

They'll register children who have lost their parents or relatives in the mayhem that often follows catastrophic events and work to reunite them with their families. They'll network and coordinate with FEMA, the American Red Cross and other major aid organizations, including those at the state and local levels to ensure children and their caretakers receive the services they need.

Paganucci spent two days in Toms River before being dispatched up the coast to New York City, where she assisted more children, working in Queens, Brooklyn and Coney Island.

Coordinators in Westport had found her lodging in a hotel in Long Island City. But with considerable damage to the first floor, partial services had been established on the upper floors. Paganucci felt lucky to be staying on the third floor, since there were no elevators operating.

She had some lighting and occasional hot water, but no Internet, television or hotel phone.

After two weeks on the job, Paganucci was released from her commitment and returned home to Waterford.

Typically, deployments average two to three weeks.

"I truly feel this is a way for me to give back in a meaningful way. It allows me to walk the walk and actually do some of the work Save the Children is known for. It re-energizes me for my real job," she said.

Save the Children will remain on the job as they often do during the rebuilding process, sometimes establishing a satellite office for long-term needs, as occurred with Hurricane Katrina.

They'll help to restore access to child-care services and initiate temporary or long-term educational programs, such as literacy, and health programs to fight childhood obesity.

They will also initiate or continue psycho-social support programs for all ages and familiarize those responsible for children with Resilient and Ready Communities, their child-focused disaster preparedness program.

Hurricanes, tornadoes and war may cause disruption, loss and anguish to those impacted, but life does go on, Paganucci said.

She laughs when she tells the story of a very pregnant mother who left her children at the shelter in care of relatives while she traveled to the nearest hospital to give birth. The new baby was aptly named Sandy.

SAVE THE CHILDREN OPERATES SOLELY ON PRIVATE DONATIONS. LEARN MORE ON THEIR WEBSITE: SAVETHECHILDREN.ORG.