Hurricane preparedness means disaster planning and recovery for the short and long term. Fearful journey back to Hurricane Ike ground zero – disaster grief and recovery begins
Hundreds and even thousands of families are being allowed to journey back to see what is left if anything of their homes and communities after Hurricane Ike ravaged the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Not since hurricane katrina has so much hurricane damage been done by the sheer force of wind and water.
First steps into the long disaster recovery journey
When assessing hurricane damage one must assess it from the practical side of monetary loss but also from the emotional and community life aspect as well. For those who are facing the devastating destruction of their homestead, the emotional impact will be deeply felt for years and lifetimes ahead. It is not just the house that is destroyed but also the community and the sense of wellbeing that was associated with the home that will compound the disaster event.
As those who have experienced hurricane damage from such famous hurricanes as hurricane charlie, hurricane andrew, hurricane wilma and hurricane hugo to name just a few will tell you, the hurricane response is physical, emotional and financial. After the emergency response to physical safety issues of individuals has finished, the longer term emotional hurricane rescue ad recovery will need to happen. That is not an easy time for anyone involved. It can feel like hurricane force winds beating at your heart .
Often all is left are left are tears and disaster management support
Emotional disaster management needs to take place. Many will want to push ahead at lightning speed and try to spend 12-18 hour each day if possible working at storm clean up. The emotional backlash from this can be significant.
No matter how strong and practical a person is, emotionally, it takes time to grieve the disaster loss. It doesn’t matter how much emotional hurricane preparation you have done before the storm or contingency planning you do as your journey back down familiar roads that you hardly recognize due to the damage -- nothing can prepare you for the intense emotions, tears, anguish and despondency one can feel when a disaster hits home.
The desire for an emotional hurricane shutter to shield the heart from the pain
Many who have gone through a devastating hurricane season and personally experienced tremendous loss will tell even years later that when first seeing their damaged or destroyed home, they wish they have could have just pull down an emotional hurricane shutter around their hearts and emotions and shielded it from the pain of such loss.
It sure would be nice if that was possible. Unfortunately there are no physical hurricane panels that can protect someone from the pain and anguish of a natural disaster.
Even though there are no hurricane panels that can save the heart from disaster grief, there are ways for you and your family can to start to get through the anguish. During those first few days, friends and family can be the emotional hurricane protectors to help you to get through the initial moments of disaster grief.
It is vital that you do not make any decisions during this time. Your emotional state of mind is more turbulence than a category 5 hurricane with bands of grief, fear and loss swirling around inside.
Often when we are overwhelmed with the severity of loss, as well as the magnitude of the issues that a person must face frequently due to a disaster, our ability to cope with the situation is impossible to do alone. It is during these times that the major a part of the disaster recovery will be through friends and family that can help provide a respite with some personal disaster management support while you begin the long road of disaster recovery physically and emotionally.
Disaster Cleanup
Allow these caring friends and loved ones to help with the initial disaster cleanup and salvaging for personal items from the damaged home. Let them take the pictures of the home and make phone calls that may be necessary. You don’t need to do everything yourself. Delegation of disaster cleanup tasks will help get the job done faster without tremendous stress all falling on your shoulders.
Sound disaster support
There will be volunteer services that can be of help and comfort as well as provide important information for disaster follow-up services. Get all the information you can. Many of these organizations will include the Red Cross, Salvation Army are well other recognized disaster support services. There will also be lesser known disaster support services established locally will be very willing to offer support and help. Utilize their help and care -- that is what they are there for. Get as much information including as many of the handouts as possible.
It is unfortunate that during some of the more difficult days of your life you will need to also be very aware that not everyone is there for your best interest. There will be scam artists, individuals who will try to take advantage of you and the situation.
There is a time for everything including tears and disaster recovery process
Avoid making any decisions without talking it over with a trusted friend and / or family members that you have know from BEFORE the hurricane disaster and NEVER sign anything without a trusted confidant and / or lawyer to look it over. Even if you feel that all you want to do is to pull down the emotional hurricane shutter over your eyes and heart and walk away, this is not the time to make such important life choices. Give your self a week or so to adjust to the realities of the hurricane damage situation to your property and life before even thinking of making any long term drastic action.
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