#17,041
The common denominator across nearly all natural (and many man-made) disasters is that the power - and by extension water, internet, banking, cell service and other essentials - will go out. Often for hours, days, or even weeks.
While I got very lucky and ended up on the northern fringe of Hurricane Ian - and my power was restored in less than 48 hours - hundreds of thousands of my fellow Floridians to my south are now in their 6th day of darkness.
Although remarkable progress is being made in the restoration of power, many may be without electrical service for weeks, possibly months.
Making matters worse, hundreds of communities in 25 Florida counties who are lucky enough to have running water, are under boil water notices. A task made doubly difficult when the power is out. For many, sanitary sewers are backed up or offline as well.
Living under these conditions is hard, dirty, tedious and sometimes even dangerous.
Many have lost their businesses or source of employment. And for those whose homes are damaged, and are in a queue of thousands of others waiting for insurance adjusters, settlements and repairs, it can be demoralizing as well.
We tent to regard the first 24 hours of a hurricane's impact as being the most dramatic and newsworthy, but the real impact comes in the days, weeks, and months that follow.
The loss in terms of mortality, morbidity and permanent disability, PTSD, homes and belongings, businesses, jobs and life savings, and continuity of a community are never fully tallied or appreciated.We've looked at some of these after effects in the past.
There are always the usual post-disaster accidents; drownings, carbon monoxide poisoning from using charcoal or generators indoors. Falls from roofs or ladders from clearing debris, or chain saw accidents. And even skin infections and food poisoning from contaminated waters (see After The Storm Passes).
But there are some other post-disaster impacts that have only recently become well acknowledged.
In March of 2009, in a study led by Dr. Anand Irimpen (Associate Professor of clinical medicine at Tulane), it was disclosed that residents of New Orleans saw a 300% increase in heart attacks in the first 2 years after hurricane Katrina.
A follow up, published in 2014 (see Tulane University: Post-Katrina Heart Attack Rates - Revisited), once again found the impact of Katrina on cardiac health remained pronounced.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, which surveyed 1,043 survivors, found:
- More than 11% were diagnosed with a serious mental illness following the storm. This compares to just over 6% before the hurricane.
- 9.9% had mild-moderate mental illness, compared to 9.7% before Katrina.
- They estimated 200,000 people facing serious mental problems, such as PTSS (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) and depression, in the three states most affected.
In 2014, in Post-Disaster Stress Cardiomyopathy: A Broken-Hearted Malady, we looked at a rare condition known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy – or stress induced cardiomyopathy which is often linked to extreme grief or stress, as might be experienced following a disaster.
Also known as broken heart syndrome, this acute ballooning of the heart ventricles is a well-recognized cause of acute heart failure and dangerous cardiac arrhythmia's.
While often hidden from view, the psychological impact of a disaster can be enormous and ongoing. In 2011, in Post Disaster Stress & Suicide Rates, we looked at the impacts of disaster-related PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).
Living as I do in hurricane country, I've made it a point to have a disaster plan, a disaster buddy, a bug-out destination, and the things I would need to survive without electricity, running water, open grocery stores or pharmacies for a week or longer:
- A battery operated NWS Emergency Radio to find out what was going on, and to get vital instructions from emergency officials
- A decent first-aid kit, so that you can treat injuries
- Enough non-perishable food and water on hand to feed and hydrate your family (including pets) for the duration
- A way to provide light when the grid is down.
- A way to cook safely without electricity
- A way to purify or filter water
- A way to handle basic sanitation and waste disposal.
- A way to stay cool (fans) or warm when the power is out.
- A small supply of cash to use in case credit/debit machines are not working
- An emergency plan, including meeting places, emergency out-of-state contact numbers, a disaster buddy, and in case you must evacuate, a bug-out bag
- Spare supply of essential prescription medicines that you or your family may need
- A way to entertain yourself, or your kids, during a prolonged blackout
I do this not only for my physical health and comfort, but for my mental health as well. I sleep better at night knowing I'm prepared for the worst, and if it happens, I'll be less stressed and less challenged than had I not prepared.
I'm not as young, or as physically able, as I used to be. I realize that conditions I might have tolerated when I was 30 are a lot harder to deal with, now that I'm nearing 70.
You don't have to live in Hurricane country to battered by a natural disaster. Earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, tsunami's, blizzards, volcanic eruptions, and even solar storms can strike with little or no warning.
Preparedness is cheap insurance. A good place to get started is READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/
For more on dealing with the trauma of a disaster, the CDC has a website geared to post-disaster stress.
Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), may be stressful for people and communities.
Learn more about coping during COVID-19.
During and after a disaster, it is natural to experience different and strong emotions. Coping with these feelings and getting help when you need it will help you, your family, and your community recover from a disaster. Connect with family, friends, and others in your community. Take care of yourself and each other, and know when and how to seek help.
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 (SAMHSA) website.
Explore the resources below to learn how to cope and take care of yourself and each other during an emergency.
Taking Care of Your Emotional Health
Planning Resources for State and Local Governments
A small reminder that in the wake of a disaster not all wounds bleed, not all fractures show up on an X-ray, and that the best treatment doesn't always come from inside your first aid kit.
