How will you respond or react to a disaster?
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On September 1, Labor Day, as a member of the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps, I spent the day working with about 2,000 Louisianans who had just been bused to Oklahoma City to shelter from Hurricane Gustav. They were sheltering in a huge unused warehouse-the Lucent Technology Center in southwest Oklahoma City. Show By far, the majority of our "guests" were a stalwart group. In particular, I met and talked with a man, about my own age (older rather than younger), who worked as a maintenance man in the courthouse complex in New Orleans. We started the conversation with him teaching me the best way to eat MREs (meals ready to eat)-which menus were the best, how to mix the gravy with the meat, and the best way to open the cheese packets. He had been through Katrina and decided that had been enough; so when the mayor of New Orleans had urged people to evacuate, he took him up on it. Even though my new friend was coping, I saw that he was also unhappy. Who wouldn't be, given his situation? Disasters are an all too common experience nowadays. You know, natural disasters such as hurricanes can have a huge impact on those who survive them. People usually have strong emotional reactions to these situations. Common responses immediately following the event are denial and shock. Feeling overwhelmed or numb is also common. In the weeks and months following the disaster, people may begin to have varied reactions. All of the following are common reactions to trauma, but everyone is different, so remember to take that into consideration when evaluating yours or a friend's emotional reactions.
Now that you know about these reactions, you may be thinking, "Ok, how can I cope with all this?" There are several ways to help yourself or a loved one heal emotionally after a disaster. First of all, be patient. Give yourself time to experience these emotions and expect that things will not go back to normal overnight. Let yourself experience emotions and try to deal with them as they come. If you feel like you are alone in this, ask for support from your family and friends or try to find support groups of people who have experienced the same thing. Talking with others about your traumatic experience can help lift a heavy burden. In addition to communicating your experience to others, try to get into a daily routine. People need to experience some sort of stability after trauma, and routines can help to establish stability in your life. Try to get plenty of sleep and remember to eat healthily. Taking care of your body will ease the stress on your mind. If you try these things and still don't experience any relief, remember that contacting a psychologist or counselor for extra support can be very helpful for those who have experienced a traumatic event. And, finally, remember that when opening the cheese packet in an MRE, don't open the whole packet, just tear off one corner—that way it's easier to spread the cheese on your MRE crackers. To find a therapist, please visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory. Taking Care of Your Emotional Healthalert icon The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), may be stressful for people and communities. It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster. Everyone reacts differently, and your own feelings will change over time. Notice and accept how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during an emergency will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family. Self-care during an emergency will help your long-term healing. People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment plans during an emergency and monitor for any new symptoms. Additional information can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSAexternal icon) website. It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster. Everyone reacts differently, and your own feelings will change over time. Notice and accept how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during an emergency will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family. Self-care during an emergency will help your long-term healing. People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment plans during an emergency and monitor for any new symptoms. Additional information can be found at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSAexternal icon) website.
Take the following steps to cope with a disaster:
Look out for these common signs of distress:
If you experience these feelings or behaviors for several days in a row and are unable to carry out normal responsibilities because of them, seek professional helpexternal icon.  Stay informed, take breaks, and connect with others to help cope during disasters. Credit: iStock Additional Resources
What are the response to natural disaster?The management of a disaster includes 4 phases: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. This call is open for services that are relevant for the phase of preparedness (i.e. planning how to respond to a disaster) and response (i.e. efforts to minimize the hazards created by a disaster).
What is the most common response to a disaster?Typical reactions to disasters
Distress reaction is transitory and commonly regarded as a normal response to an abnormal event. Survivors also react with grief to the loss of loved ones, homes, and possessions. Poor concentration, withdrawal, and depressed mood characterize grief reactions and are common and normal.
What is the first response to a disaster?Search-and-rescue and emergency medical services come first.
The immediate priority after a natural disaster is providing emergency first aid and medical services to injured persons. Local residents, health professionals, emergency workers, and public-safety officers are the first responders.
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