Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Tips Given On How To Cope After Storm Damage

Barbara A. Holt, Ph.D

County Agent-Home Economic

Cooperative Extension Service

Diaster struck Clark County last weekend. People have lost family members and friends, homes and personal belongings. If you think you and your neighbors were spared, you haven't been down town to see what the tornado did to your county seat.

Disasters have plagued mankind throughout history. Individuals, families, property, the economy and the environment have suffered. Any disaster broadens our perspective and increases the range of emotions we experience. If we recognize the various reactions that normally occur during and after a disaster, we can understand and cope with them better.

Dr. Betty Youngman, Extension Family Life Specialist, says that our first instinct is for survival. Adrenaline flows, and we operate at full capacity to do what we must do to survive and help others. Next we may experience numbness and shock and be uncertain when difficult decisions need to be made.

In the first weeks after the disaster we may experience these emotions:

Fuzzy sense of time. We may lose track of time in the struggle to cope. Normal routines come to a halt while we deal with the emergency.

Confusion. It takes time to try to pick up the pieces of our lives. Things just don't feel the same as before.

Vulnerability and helplessness. People try to create a life where they feel reasonabely in control. Suddenly their security and sense of power are disrupted.

Survivor's guilt. Even those not directly affected by damage or loss may feel this way when others have suffered so much real loss. We need to remember that all residents in a community affected are victims because they are hurt and saddened by the losses of their friends and neighbors.

Sadness, loneliness. We may feel needy, lonely, sad, or simply not ourselves.

Distrupted sleep. Some individuals may sleep more, others less; both sleep patterns may lead to fatigue or being tired most of the time.

Emotional exhaustion. The experience of coping may leave some people drained.

Anger. Many feel overwhelmed especially at the amount of paperwork red tape and time they must spend trying to recover financially.

Physical exhaustion. Long hours of digging out, removing debris and starting to make home repairs can be physically exhausting.

Children who suffer loss in a disaster or who were frightened by the experience need special attenditon at a time when parents may be emotionally drained. Older adults may have special issues to face such as the worry about how losses will affect their fixed incomes. Sadness or listlessness are common fellings for those who lost long cherished mementoes. These factors may be magnified because children may not be able to express their fears and older adults may hesitate to ask for help or financial aid.

Reactions to disaster may be on going and last for months or longer. These might include a feeling of isolation when the closeness and teamwork in the community have warned. Bureaucratic hassles may be frustrating. Depression and worry about financial loss sink in and real financial hardship may be experienced.

Health may suffer as we experience long-term stress. Headaches, stomach or intestinal problems, high blood pressure, heart problems, frequent colds and viruses and an increase in allergies are common.

Moving back to the family home after it has been cleaned and repaired can bring mixed emotions: relief and joy, but feelings of sadness and fear, too. Special occasions can cause sadness. Family and marital discord are not uncommon. And feeling edgy, nervous or irritable during bad weather is to be expected. Adults may cry for no apparent reason--children may revert to earlier behaviors such as thumb-sucking, clinging or having nightmares.

What can we do to help cope with these emotions? These activities may help:

Take time off from worries and home repairs. Set aside time for relazation or get away from home with close friends for a day.

Talk about your experiences. This makes it easier for friends and family to talk about their feelings and fears, too.

Couples need to tend to their relationships. Set aside time to communicate. Try not to blame one another or take out anger due to stresses from outside the relationship.

Engage in physical activity not related to the disaster. Pay attention to your health. A good diet and adequate sleep are vital.

Making preparations for future emergencies can decrease feelings of helplessness and bring some peace of mind. Develop a plan for emergencies, get supplies together, learn to shut off utilities, and know what resources you have available in your community.

Talk with children about their feelings. Provide simple, accurate information and keep reassuring them. Games and play activities can help children work through their disaster experiences and feelings.

Realize that rainy or stormy days may make everyone edge. Plan a special enjoyable activity to start replacing fears with more pleasant associations.

All of us know the losses, pain and difficulties of recovering from a disaster. The healing process is helped if we let ourselves recognize and appreciate any positive effects a disaster may have had on our lives. For some, it provides an opportunity to meet neighbors for the first time. For others, it can provide a chance to participate in community activities or use leadship potential. Some will discover new community resources. If we can identify these positives aspects it may help us deal withour recent disaster.

An information sheet on Normal Feelings and Reactions of Disastr Victims is available at the Clark County Extension Office 5th and Clay street in Arkadelphia.